Garda Vetting

Under the Child Care ( Pre-school Services ) Regulations 2006 , all childcare providers and H.S.E. notified childminders must avail of Garda Vetting for all of their staff, students and volunteers. Every service must have evidence of their Garda Vetting on the premises, for example, an original certificate confirming the completion of the Garda Vetting process.

Article 8 (2) (c) of the Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations, 2006 states:

‘Any person carrying on a pre-school service is required to ensure appropriate vetting of all staff, students and volunteers who have access to a child -

(a) by reference to past employer references in particular the most recent employer reference, in respect of all staff, and
(b) by reference from reputable sources, in respect of all students and volunteers, and
(c) by acquiring Garda vetting from An Garda Siochana when An Garda Siochana have set down procedures to make such vetting available, and
(d) in circumstances where Garda vetting is not available for staff, students and volunteers who have lived outside the jurisdiction, by ensuring that these persons provide necessary police vetting from other police authorities.
Section 8(3) Such vetting procedures shall be carried out prior to any person being appointed or assigned or being allowed access to a child in the pre-school service.

Good practice would also suggest that you have your existing staff vetted every five years. It is also important that all childcare services promote and support the welfare and protection of children through developing appropriate policies, which relate to recruitment, child protection, training and garda vetting practices in their childcare service for staff and volunteers.

Below are contact details of organisations that carry out the Garda Vetting process for childcare providers:

Barnardos Vetting Service,

The Bowling Green, White Street, Cork.

Phone: 021 4547060 Website:

www.barnardos.ie/vettingservice.htm

NCNA

Unit 12c, Bluebell Business Park, Old Naas Road, Bluebell, Dublin 12

Phone: 01 4601138

Website: www.ncna.net

IPPA, The Early Childhood Organisation

Unit 4, Broomhill Business Complex, Tallaght, Dublin 24

Phone: 01 463 0010

Website: www.ippa.ie

Childminders

The DCCC recommends all childminders, childminder’s assistants and any person over the age of 18 years in the childminder’s home, be Garda Vetting. Childminders notified to the HSE are required to be vetted under the Child Care (Pre-school Services) Regulations 2006, and childminders who become Voluntary Notified to the DCCC automatically agree to undergo the procedure of Garda Vetting once the system is set up. Childminders should apply for Garda Vetting through Barnardos.

By availing of the vetting system, childminders can offer reassurance to parents that their child/ren are receiving care from a person who has been vetted and who is deemed therefore to be suitable to provide personal care and attention to their child in the unsupervised environment of the family home.

Garda Vetting is an important step in protecting the safety and welfare of the children in your care. Having a written Child Protection Policy and Procedures and ensuring parents are aware of such procedures is another aspect, as is training in the Children First: Child Protection programme. Contact the DCCC for information on up-coming Child Protection Training.