Integrity

Integrity Checking

What are integrity checks and why we do them?

The Salvation Army’s Integrity Checking Policy guides the requirements for background checks on people who seek to work for us .  Background checking [including police checks (also referred to as National Criminal History checks) and working with children checks], is used to screen applicants as a means of establishing the suitability, identity and credentials of individuals. 

Through its integrity checking processes, The Salvation Army demonstrates due diligence and equity and fairness in its selection and appointment of existing and prospective people.

What happens if a check shows a conviction?

In the event that an integrity check reveals a disclosable outcome (including negative notice on a WWCC application), The Salvation Army will conduct a risk assessment to determine the applicant’s suitability for the role.  This process will involve assessing the risk against the role to which the applicant is seeking appointment.  The Salvation Army identifies specific categories of criminal convictions that present a risk to clients, workers and the organisation. A process of significant consideration with specific risk and suitability assessmentwill be undertaken to determine if a specific worker can be engaged in that position.

A disclosable outcome does not automatically preclude anyone from working with The Salvation Army. 

Confidentiality and privacy of the applicant are paramount in the risk assessment process.  No details of the conviction are recorded in any assessment documentation.

Police checks

A police check is a check of a person’s criminal history through an accredited criminal history record checking organisation. The record will not include ‘spent’ convictions unless if it is in the interest of crime prevention or public safety to do so.

Police checks are conducted prior to a person being engaged or employed by The Salvation Army, and are repeated every three years thereafter.

The Salvation Army processes all of its police checks through CrimCheck, an accredited agency of the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission. The Salvation Army has processes in place to record police check reference details and ensure checks are kept up to date.

Working with Children Checks

Individuals engaged in child related work must have a Working with Children Check.  This is a legislative requirement.  

It is responsibility of the person to lodge their own WWCC applications and keep the card up to date and valid. 

The Salvation Army has systems in place to ensure those workers engaged in child related work  have up to date and valid cards.