Counselling (Behavioural Therapy) placement compliance

These clearances are valid for three years from date of issue (unless revoked prior), except Working with Children Check which has an expiry of five years.

There are four types of screening offered by the DHS; Aged-Care Sector, Working With Children Check (WWCC), Vulnerable Person employment, and Disability Services employment. Refer to the pre-placement compliance checklist to determine which screenings you require.

Formerly known as Department of Communities and Social Inclusion (DCSI) clearances, DHS clearances are state-based clearances used that are used to determine suitability for employment within specific care sectors in South Australia.

Note: Working With Children Checks issued prior to 1 July 2019 are known as Child-Related Employment Screenings.

Obtaining DHS clearances

1. WIL team will initiate your application with DHS.
   
2. Await application email – It may take 5 – 10 business days to receive an email from the DHS Screening Unit. Be advised that the email may be sent to your junk/clutter folder.
3. Activate and complete application – Once the activation email is received, follow the links to log into the DHS Screening portal and complete the application. Students are responsible for paying the application fee.
4. Complete ID Verification – There are three options for completing the ID verification:
   • Verify online – Recommended for students with Australian ID documents.
   • Requesting organisation – Recommended for students that cannot complete online verification. Students selecting this option will need to bring 100 points of ID (eg student ID and passport) to the CMPH college office, FMC level 5 or the CNHS college office in Sturt N101.
   • Print and seek verification – Not recommended. Students selecting this option must have their ID verified by a Justice of the Peace and post the application to DHS.

Existing clearances can be renewed up to 6 months prior to expiry. It is recommended that clearances are renewed early to ensure there is no lapse in compliance.

View more information on the DHS website.

What is the difference between DHS clearances and the Police Check?

The Police Check is a printout of all disclosable criminal convictions as recorded by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC). DHS clearances involve additional probity checks and continuous monitoring. Both are required.

• Students must supply a valid Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) prior to the commencement of their placement.

Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC)

Valid for three years from date of issue

Commonly referred to as a Police Check, a National Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) is a document that lists all criminal convictions recorded against a person in the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) database. For more information visit the ACIC website.

Police Checks (NCCHCs) can be issued by:

• State and Territory or
• Private brokers that have been accredited by the ACIC

An acceptable Police Check (NCCHC) must meet the following requirements:

• Unsupervised Contact within the Health/Aged Care Sector.
• The following information is provided to assist you complete an application form for your Police Check:
• Reason for Check – Unsupervised Contact with Vulnerable Groups (if there is a character limit, ensure Unsupervised Contact is recorded at a minimum).
• Proposed Place of Work – Health/Aged Care Sector
• Location – Adelaide, South Australia

Please note – if you are completing a Police Check for a Northern Territory placement, please follow the instruction provided by Flinders NT or your discipline specific checklist.  In the absence of this advice, follow the above instructions to complete the application form.

Students are responsible for the cost of obtaining their Police Check (NCCHC).

Students completing placements in South Australia may choose to apply for a Police Check (NCCHC) directly through their local police, or through a commercial broker. If a Police Check (NCCHC) is required urgently (e.g. sooner than 4 – 5 weeks) then it is advisable to apply online through an accredited broker that offers fast turnaround.

Police Check (NCCHC) providers:

• South Australia Police (SAPOL) - We strongly recommend you use the SAPOL Police Check as this the most accepted document.
• Third party providers are  https://flinders.checked.com.au and www.cvcheck.com.
• State clearances are most widely accepted across organisations and interstate, third party provided clearances may not be accepted by host organisations outside of the control of the University.

Please note that Flinders University does not endorse these providers and cannot guarantee their turnaround times.

What happens if there are offences listed on my Police Check?

Students with criminal convictions should to refer to the SA Health Criminal and Relevant History Screening Policy Directive. Students with serious criminal convictions may be precluded from placement. Students with criminal convictions are advised to meet with their course coordinator to discuss their ability to satisfy the requirements of their placement topic.

Will you accept a Teachers Registration Board (TRB) Registration Certificate?

No. The Teachers Registration Board (TRB) undertakes a Police Check (Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check) as part of the registration process, however, no outcomes are listed on the registration certificate. You are required to obtain a separate Police Check (NCCHC).

How can I obtain a replacement Police Check?

Replacement Police Checks (NCCHCs) can sometimes be obtained by contacting the organisation that issued the original certificate. In many cases, students who have lost their Police Check (NCCHC) will need to apply for a new one.