These are requirements under the Vulnerable Children's Act 2014.
- C hild Protection Policy (CPP)
- Safety checking
- Workforce restriction information
- Implementation of the Vulnerable Children Act 2014 in schools - Overview of the requirements of the Act
- Use this planning tool for implementing the Vulnerable Children Act 2014
- Further information
Child Protection Policy
| Timeframe | Key requirements |
|---|---|
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Resources and support
- Children’s Action Plan: Safer organisations Safer children: Guidelines for child protection policies to build safer organisations– see checklist p13
- Scope of requirements for child protection policies requirements
- Sample child protection policy [NZSTA website]
- Workshops on child protection policy [NZSTA]
Safety Checking
All childrens workers need to be safety checked every 3 years.
| Timeframes | Key requirements |
|---|---|
| From 1 July 2015 | Safety checking of all newcore workers (even if they are not new to the employer but are newly appointed to a children’s worker role) must be safety checked before they start in the role. |
| From 1 July 2016 | Safety checking of all new non-core workers before they are appointed to the role |
| By 1 July 2018 | Safety checking of all existing core workers |
| By 1 July 2019 | Safety checking of all existing non- core workers |
Resources and support
- Planning Tool: Implementing changes to Safety Checking and developing a Child Protection Policy (Vulnerable Children Act 2014)
- New and Existing Employees: Safety Checking under the Vulnerable Children Act 2014
- Implementation of the Vulnerable Children Act 2014 in schools - Overview of the requirements of the Act
- What checks do I need to do for adults coming into my school or kura
- Example questions to ask during interviews
- Trainees on Practicum: Safety Checking under the Vulnerable Children Act 2014
- New Zealand Police Vetting Service Request and Consent forms
- Safer recruitment Safer children : Guidance for choosing safe people to work with children
- Scope of requirements for safety checking
- Safety checking advice and resources for employers
- Safety checking relievers
Workforce restriction
The new workforce restriction prohibits certain organisations from employing or engaging people with certain specified criminal convictions as core children’s workers, unless they hold a Core Worker Exemption (CWE).
If an individual holds a CWE it is no longer against the law to employ that person as a core children's worker.
A CWE is not role-specific, so, subject to conditions, a CWE holder can legally be employed in any core children’s worker role. However, it is still up to the employer to decide whether or not the CWE holder is suitable for the role they are applying for.
The CWE application process is administered by the Ministry of Social Development. You can find out more about the CWE application process on the Childrens Action Plan website.
| Timeframes | Key requirements |
|---|---|
| From 1 July 2015 | People convicted of specified offences may not be employed in a core children's worker role unless they have an exemption from the Workforce Retriction. |
| 1 July 2016 | The Workforce Restriction applies for all existing core workers , unless an exemption has been granted. |