ACCESS NI CHECKS

Access NI is a branch within the Department of Justice, established in April 2008.  Its job is to supply certificates that show whether people who want to work in certain types of jobs, for example with children and or vulnerable adults, have a criminal record or if other important information is known about them.  This enables employers to make safer recruitment decisions. Access NI is a Criminal
History Disclosure Service within the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland. Access NI commenced operations in April 2008 and operates in accordance with Part V of the Police Act 1997.

If you apply for certain jobs or voluntary positions, you may be asked for an Access NI check. You will be told when a basic, standard or enhanced check is necessary. Only companies and organisations can register with UCRB in order to carry out standard and enhanced checks.

When will an employer require an Access NI check?
Employers are responsible for knowing when a job or volunteering role requires an Access NI check.

United Medicare are able to carry out Access NI Checks for companies and orgnaisations providing they meet the criteria of Access NI relating to enhanced or standard checks.

Standard Access NI Checks

A standard check discloses an individual’s criminal record, giving:

• Spent and unspent convictions
• Informed warnings and other non-court disposals from the Police National Computer Some old and minor convictions and non-court disposals on a criminal record may not be disclosed.Fixed penalty tickets and parking fines will not be included in a standard check. Standard checks are only available where the position or role in question is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders (NI) Order 1978. They are not suitable for roles working with children or vulnerable adults.

Enhanced Access NI Checks

An enhanced check discloses an individual’s full criminal record, giving:

• Spent and unspent convictions from the Police National Computer
• Cautions, informed warnings and other non-court disposals from the Police National Computer
• Information held by the Disclosure and Barring Service (for positions in regulated activity)
• Information held by the police that is relevant to the role applied for Some old and minor convictions and non-court disposals on a criminal record may be filtered. Fixed penalty tickets or parking fines will not be included in an enhanced check. Enhanced checks are normally required where the applicant will work or volunteer in a role providing services to or having close and regular supervision of children and / or vulnerable adults. An individual cannot apply for an enhanced check. An application for an enhanced check must be counter-signed by an Access NI registered organisation.

  You must be 16 years or over of age to get an enhanced check.  The only exception is for family members of an applicant, under 16, where the applicant is registering as a childminder or is seeking to adopt or foster a child.