Standard Disclosures
The Standard Disclosure Certificate shows details of spent and unspent convictions and cautions. It does not show details of cases pending.
- Is applied for by a Registered Body where the position is included within the scope of the Rehabilitation of Offenders (Exceptions) Order (Northern Ireland) 1979
- May be needed by Registered Bodies as part of the recruitment process.
- The completed Application Forms are countersigned by the Registered Body and sent to AccessNI once the identity has been verified.
Both the Registered Body and the Applicant receive copies of the Disclosure Certificate.
Who is eligible for a Standard Disclosure?
If you are unsure if a particular position is covered, consult the Rehabilitation of Offenders (Exceptions) Order (Northern Ireland) 1979 itself. Please note, the Government may amend the Exceptions Order and you should check the site regularly for updates.
See also – Working with the vulnerable
Alternatively, you may seek advice from AccessNI by contacting the help line.
Example of Positions eligible for Standard Disclosures.
- Medical practitioner
- Barrister, solicitor
- Dentist
- Nurse, midwife
- Optician
- Pharmacist
- Veterinary surgeon
- Registered chiropractor
- Registered osteopath
- Judicial appointments
- Employment in the Northern Ireland Court Service
- Actuary
- Constables
- Employment concerned with the administration of prisons
- Probation officers
- Teacher, lecturer in an institution or college of further education
The following types of position are also covered:
Employment in connection with the provision of personal social services where the employees will, in the course of their normal duties, have access to persons under 18 or over the age of 65; persons suffering from serious illness or mental disorder of any description; persons addicted to alcohol or drugs; persons who are blind, deaf or dumb; other persons who are substantially and permanently handicapped by illness, injury or congenital deformity.
Any employment which is concerned with the provision of health services and which enables the employees, in the course of their normal duties, to have access to persons in receipt of such services
Any employment that is concerned with the provision to persons aged under 18 of accommodation, care, leisure and recreational activities, schooling, personal social services, supervision or training, employment which enables the employees to have access in the course of their duties to such persons; and any other employment where the normal duties are carried out wholly or partly on the premises where such provision takes place.
It is important to note this list of examples may not be current and you should consult the Exceptions Order directly.
Standard Disclosures for those working with the Vulnerable
If a Standard Disclosure is required for someone who will be working with children or vulnerable adults, AccessNI can also conduct a check against lists of those considered unsuitable to work with the vulnerable.
The Registered Body is responsible for advising AccessNI that this is required.
The Registered Body must complete the appropriate sections of the Application Form, without this we cannot check the Lists.
