Non Teacher Police Vetting
Important information for Vet Requestors
Amendment to the Education Standards Act 2001 currently under review.
The proposed changes relate to a number of areas of the Council’s work including the Non Teacher Police Vetting function for non teachers and contractors.
The proposed changes will mean that:
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Non Teacher Police Vet applications will no longer be processed by the New Zealand Teachers Council.
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Schools and centres will lodge applications directly with the New Zealand Police Licensing and Vetting Service Centre.
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Requirements for non teaching and contractor candidates who must be Police Vetted will change.
NOTE: Until such time as the amendment has passed into legislation, current Non Teacher Police Vetting procedures will remain in place. It is a legal requirement to ensure that non teachers and contractors are vetted.
The Council will announce the progress of the amendment, and give notification of the details and date of the change-over as they are determined.
Further information regarding the Non Teacher Police Vetting process can be found on the Council’s website www.teacherscouncil.govt.nz/ntpv or phone (04) 470 9079.
Who do we need to vet?
- Non teaching staff in schools and early childhood services, who do not hold a Limited Authority to Teach (LAT)
- Teachers in early childhood services who are not registered
- Contractors who regularly work at a school or early childhood service during hours of operation
- Employees of contractors (as above) who regularly work at a school or early childhood service during hours of operation
Why do we have to vet?
The Education Act 1989, amended by the Education Standards Act 2001, states that the categories of employees (listed above) must be police vetted through the NZ Teachers Council.
The intent of the Act is to ensure that learners are not exposed to an unacceptable risk by persons the school or early childhood service causes them to come into contact with.
Schools: "Before appointing a person who is not a registered teacher or holder of a Limited Authority to Teach to a position at a school, the Board of the school or management of school, in certain cases, must obtain a police vet of the person from the NZ Teachers Council."
Early Childhood Centres: "Before appointing a person who is not a registered teacher or holder of a Limited Authority to Teach to a permanent position at an early childhood service, the management of the service, must obtain a police vet of the person from the NZ Teachers Council".
Information for Vet Requestors
Since 2002 the New Zealand Teachers Council has been responsible for the Non Teacher Police Vetting process for schools for schools and centres.
Outlined are some of the issues that impact the Units processing of applications and aims to assist in giving vet requestors some guidance about who can be vetted through the Council.
The Council does not vet
- Volunteers and Parents (e.g. on school camps, helping at the school _ not employed or paid by the Board of Trustees): This group are police vetted directly through the Vetting and Validation Section of NZ Police, for further information refer to, www.police.govt.nz/service/vetting
- Underage: Applicants under the age of 17 cannot legally be police vetted.
- Registered Teachers: Are police vetted by the New Zealand Teachers Council when teachers apply for registration or are renewing their practicing certificate _ refer to http://www.teacherscouncil.govt.nz/registration/
- Limited Authority to Teach (LAT): If approved, the applicant will receive a letter of confirmation _ refer to http://www.teacherscouncil.govt.nz/registration/how/lat.stm
- School Dental Nursing Staff: Dental Nurses are employed by the district health boards and the Dental Association have informed the Council that they vet on employment.
- School Chaplain: You would only vet through the New Zealand Teachers Council if the Chaplain was employed by the Board of Trustees. The Chaplain's diocesan body would be responsible for vetting him/her otherwise.
Any applications received for applicants that do not fall within the Non Teacher Police Vetting criteria will be returned to the designated vet requestor.
The Unit would request that requestors ensure all applications are completed in full before submitting them to the Council. Any applications not completed in full or with incorrect payment will be returned to the designated vet requestor which will cause a delay in processing times. Listed below are common reasons for having to return applications;
- Applicant and/or vet requestor has not signed the form
- The designated vet requestor has not printed their name
- The date of birth is missing or incorrect
- Job type/role section has not been completed
- Parts of the application are illegible; please ensure all of the application form has been completed clearly.
- Applicant and vet requestor are the same person or related
- Payment has not been submitted or is incorrect
The New Zealand Teachers Council's role for non teaching staff is to act solely as a conduit between vet requestors and NZ Police. The only record the New Zealand Teachers Council keeps is that the vet has occurred and on which date. It is the responsibility of the school or centre submitting the vet to have a process in place to record applicants renewal dates and ensure strict confidentiality is observed with information received as the result of a vet.
The Non Teacher Police Vetting unit looks forward to receiving your Non Teacher Police vetting application forms in the near future.
Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Act 2004
On 29 November 2004 a change was made to the forms used for the Council’s Non Teacher Police Vetting process. To comply with the requirements of the Criminal Records Act 2004, the NZ Teachers Council has updated the application form and information sheet required for this process. Both forms are available here. Schools, centres and contractors are asked to submit applications on the updated form.
For further information on the Act go to www.justice.govt.nz/privacy/clean-slate.html
Non Teacher Police Vet Information Sheet (150Kb PDF file)
Non Teacher Police Vet Application form TCNTPV/04 (105Kb PDF file). Non Teacher Police Vet Application form TCNTPV/04 (105Kb RTF file)
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