The Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC) is a specialized screening process essential for roles involving vulnerable populations. It goes beyond standard criminal record checks to specifically identify relevant convictions, ensuring safety and trustworthiness in caregiving and supervisory roles.
1. Understanding Vulnerable Sector Checks: Protecting Society’s Most Vulnerable
Ensuring society most vulnerable members’ safety and well-being has always been a top priority throughout history. The Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC) plays a major role in guaranteeing this protection. This essential screening process holds the key to protecting the most vulnerable members of our society. For those who work with children, the elderly, or other vulnerable individuals, a thorough screening process is imperative.
2.What is a Vulnerable Sector Check?
A Vulnerable Sector Check is a comprehensive background check designed to screen individuals seeking to work or volunteer with vulnerable groups. This check goes beyond the standard criminal record check by including a search for any records of pardoned sex offenses. The objective is to ensure that those in positions of trust do not pose a risk to the individuals they serve. This type of screening is required for the following types of positions, among others:
- Teachers
- Social workers
- Taxi drivers
- Daycare workers
- Sports coaches
3. Who is considered vulnerable?
Individuals considered vulnerable are people who due to certain characteristics or circumstances, whether temporary or permanent, are in a position of dependence on others, or is at a higher risk of experiencing harm, abuse, or exploitation by a person in a position or authority or trust relative to them. These individuals often require additional protection and support to ensure their safety and well-being. The following groups are commonly considered vulnerable:
Children
- Children, generally defined as individuals under the age of 18, are considered vulnerable because they are still developing physically, emotionally, and cognitively. They may not fully understand the intentions of adults and are more susceptible to manipulation, abuse, and neglect. This vulnerability necessitates stringent checks for anyone working or volunteering in settings where they will interact with children, such as schools, daycare centers, and youth organizations
Elderly Individuals
- Elderly individuals, particularly those who are frail, disabled, or suffering from cognitive impairments such as dementia, are also considered vulnerable. They may rely on others for daily care and assistance, making them susceptible to physical, emotional, and financial abuse
Individuals with Disabilities
- People with physical, intellectual, or developmental disabilities are at an increased risk of exploitation and abuse due to their potential dependence on others for care and support. Disabilities can impact an individual’s ability to communicate effectively, recognize danger, or defend themselves
Patients in Healthcare Settings
- Patients, especially those who are hospitalized, undergoing long-term treatment, or residing in mental health facilities, are considered vulnerable. They depend on healthcare providers for their medical and personal needs, which can make them targets for various forms of abuse
Survivors of Abuse and Trauma
- Survivors of domestic violence, sexual abuse, human trafficking, and other forms of trauma are particularly vulnerable. They may be in fragile emotional and psychological states and require sensitive and compassionate support
Individuals with Substance Abuse Issues
- Those struggling with addiction to drugs or alcohol are often in vulnerable positions, as their condition can lead to impaired judgment, physical frailty, and social isolation
Refugees and Immigrants
- Refugees and immigrants, especially those who newly arrived, may be vulnerable due to language barriers, lack of social networks, and unfamiliarity with local laws and customs. They can be at risk of exploitation and need protection from unscrupulous individuals who might take advantage of their circumstances
Homeless Individuals
- People experiencing homelessness are highly vulnerable due to their lack of stable housing, financial resources, and social support. They are at a greater risk of violence, exploitation, and health issues.
4. What information will Vulnerable Sector Check Provide:
A level 3 Vulnerable Sector Check includes more information than a basic level 1 Criminal Record Check, including convictions, outstanding warrants, charges, judicial orders, and pardoned sexual offense convictions. This includes:
- Criminal convictions from CPIC and/or local databases
- Summary convictions for five years
- Outstanding entries, such as charges and warrants, judicial orders, peace bonds, probation and prohibition orders
- Absolute and conditional discharges
- Every criminal offence of which an individual has been charged that resulted in a finding of Not Criminal Responsible on account of mental disorder
- A conviction which a pardon has been granted, only if the disclosure is authorized under the Criminal Records Act; and
- Any non-conviction information authorized for exceptional disclosure under the authority of the Police Record Checks Reform Act.
5. What information Vulnerable Sector Check does not include:
Even though VSC provides more information than the regular Criminal Record Check, it doesn’t include the following information:
- Convictions under provincial statutes
- Local police contact
- Ministry of Transportation information (PARIS)
- Special Interest Police (SIP) category of CPIC
- Family Court Restraining Orders
- Foreign information
- Any reference to incidents involving mental health contact
- Diversions, (i) Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) information beyond the applicable disclosure period
- Any reference to contagious diseases.
6. Vulnerable Sector Check Process
Vulnerable Sector Check is a level 3 check and can only be conducted by local police. The process is as follows:
- The Vulnerable Sector Check application must start processing at a Local Police station and the fingerprints will not usually be needed.
- Applicants must fill out a VSC application form, which can usually be obtained from local police departments or download an online form on their websites. This form will require personal details, including full name, address, date of birth, and contact information. The applicant must also provide specific details about the position or role they are applying for
- If your personal information such as name, date of birth, and gender have a possible match with a pardoned sex offender, the police officer will require you to submit your fingerprints in order to eliminate this potential match. Otherwise, the Vulnerable Sector can be completed.
- In the case that the local police do not take the fingerprints themselves, they will issue you a fingerprinting request letter (which includes instructions and the address for the result to be sent back to) to the applicant to go to an Accredited Fingerprinting Agency, such as Frontier One Inc., to get the fingerprinting services.
- After your fingerprints have been collected and submitted to the RCMP via accredited, the fingerprint-based criminal record check results are immediately transmitted to the local police detachment that requested your fingerprints.
- The Police Service is responsible for ensuring the Vulnerable Sector Check is completed, based on the result received from the RCMP.
Note:
- The local police service to which a Police Information Check application is made will determine whether the individual’s position requires a Vulnerable Sector Check. To conduct a Vulnerable Sector Check, the applicant must give written consent to the search by the local police
- When determining whether a Vulnerable Sector check can be conducted, the decision is based on the position and not the person; therefore, detailed articulation of the position is important. Organizations requesting a Police Information Check with a Vulnerable Sector Check must provide the following information:
- The applicant’s role with the vulnerable person(s).
- Whether the applicant will have unsupervised access to vulnerable individuals
- The applicant’s level of involvement/interaction with the vulnerable person(s), including the frequency of this involvement/interaction.
In conclusion, these checks are designed to protect individuals who, due to various circumstances, are at higher risk of harm and exploitation. By ensuring that caregivers, educators, healthcare providers, and volunteers are properly screened, we can help create safer and more supportive environments for these at-risk populations. The commitment to protecting vulnerable groups reflects our society’s values of care, compassion, and responsibility.
Anyone dealing with vulnerable populations must pass a Vulnerable Sector Screening to confirm that they have no criminal record or pardoned sexual offenses prior to being hired. Fingerprints are not required for the check to be conducted by local police. If fingerprints are required in case of a possible match with a pardoned sex offender or criminal record, the local police either take your fingerprints or ask you to have them taken at an accredited fingerprinting agency. For the completion of your Vulnerable Sector Check, please only come to Frontier One Inc. if you receive a request letter from your local police department.
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Frontier One proudly offers a wide range of fingerprinting services for obtaining a Criminal Record Check from Canada (RCMP), the US (FBI FD-258/FD-1164), and other countries (C-216C).
These checks could be required for various applications, including but not limited to Permanent Residency (in Canada and other countries), Canadian Citizenship, US Immigration, Employment, Pardon, Visa/Border Crossing.
Visit us at: www.f1fingerprint.ca or call us now for assistance.
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