Police Vulnerable Sector Checks

By: Rachel Schoenebeck

Kaleen Small
Kateryna Linkeych
Cheryl Ross
 Proposal
As Early Childhood Educators, we
believe it is important for works to
substain a valid police vulnerable sector
check or police reference check when
applying for a job with vulnerable
people.

Also, employers should be liable for

paying the cost of renewing since their
responsible for their employees.
In our research, we focused
on, what is a police
reference/vulnerable sector
check, what are the levels,
what are the rules at
different companies and
what are the benefits and
barriers.
 According to the Police Information Checks
and Vulnerable Sector Checks, (2011) "
police record” is information created or
gathered by police. It may include criminal
What is Police information, such as charges and convictions,
as well as non-criminal contact with police."
Vulnerable The example of that is when police record is
Sector Check? created any time you are actively involved
with the police. Even if you have never been
charged or convicted of an offence, but
interacted with police in some way, a police
record may be created.
 According to the OACP Guideline,
(2014) “different police forces have
How long different rules as to the retention of
does a PRC/ records.” But usually vulnerable sector
checks, reviews of local occurrence
PVSC last? databases should be limited to the most
recent five years.
 According to the OACP Guideline, (2014)
“specifies that any contact with police
related to a mental health incident or
Private formally under the Mental Health Act
should not be disclosed on a criminal record
information check, a police information check, or a
vulnerable sector check.”
such as
mental health Also, employers or volunteer agencies may
specifically request a vulnerable sector check
and specifically requested information
related to mental health if needed to unsure
safety reasons, such as, to see if that person
violent, threatening or harmful.
 Issue for advocacy is areas for working
with children require employees,
Jobs that volunteers and students doing
placement, to apply for a police
require reference check. Some places such as
YMCA, TDSB, TCDSB, City of
PRC/PVSC Toronto and private centres may also
ask to have a vulnerable sector
screening and vulnerable sector check.
 1. Criminal Record Check
• Criminal convictions summary
Levels of • Used for trades, retail and banking
2. Police Information Check
Background • Includes non-conviction criminal information
and information included in criminal record

Checks check
3. Vulnerable Sector Check
• Includes: police convictions, charges,
discharge, pardon offences and non-convictions
• Used for vulnerable sector jobs, such as ECE,
hospitals and nursing homes
 This is important when working
Why is it with young children age 0-12,
important? knowing that an individual is
cleared of any offences, legally
allowed to work with children.
 • The cost may not seem significant for some but it can still be
challenging for new employees to pay for this screening on a
regular basis.

• Teachers and RECES provide valuable care for children and

families that require their services. Vulnerable Sector Checks are

Benefits also beneficial for Teacher and RECES that are place in positions
to provide care for young children.

• Employers also benefit a great deal from hiring the right

candidates for teaching and childcare positions. Companies,
employers, organization should be liable to pay for these services.
By doing so, it shows that they are invested in the employees that
they chose to represent their businesses.
 Employers that are not willing to cover the cost of
vulnerable sector checks place a barrier on a low-
Barriers income families, qualified employees, and
volunteers. Families that are newly employed may
find it hard to come up with the fees needed to
renew their VSC.
 Moving forward we would like to see the
government take a stand and make it a law for
companies to cover the cost of annually services
for new hires and volunteers, and those who stay
with the companies for many years. It is clear
that police check protects children from possible
dangerous situation with people in authority.
Part 3: Advocating for
PVSC
 Do you know about
police vulnerable
sector checks?
What is it?
For people seeking employment or volunteering with a person who is
vulnerable, such as their age, disability, or other circumstances.

Why is it important?

Some workplaces don’t require you to renew your PVSC every six months
and instead you sign an affidavit to say that you have not committed a
crime since the last time you made one, BUT this comes to a harm if they
are lying.
We made a flyer explaining to people, what
is a police vulnerable sector check and why
it is important. This gave people that
weren’t familiar with PVSC an
understanding about what it is.
 Also, to advocate our thoughts on PVSC, we
decided to walk around the school and asking
people a variety of questions.
1. As a parent, do you feel safer knowing that the individual
taking care of your child(ren) has a valid Police Vulnerable
Sector Check?

2. As an employee, do you think that your employer should

be liable for paying for your Police Vulnerable Sector
Check?

3. Do you think that prices for PVSC should be equal

throughout Ontario?
 Results:

Yes: 16
No: 0

Yes: 15
No: 3
 Yes: 8
Not equal but less expensive: 1
No: 4
 Bibliography

1. OACP Guideline, Retrieved from: http://www.oacp.on.ca/

Userfiles/Files/NewAndEvents/PublicResourceDocuments/
GUIDELINES%20FOR%20POLICE%20RECORD%20CHEC
KS%20%20_%20June%202014_FINAL.pdf
Thank you!