Police Check Policy

tappON operates as a platform where support professionals can offer at home health solutions to members. As members are requiring support from support professionals tappON requires police checks amongst the documentation support professionals provide during the registration process. 

This applies to all support professionals looking to provide services to customers. All support professionals are required to provide a valid police check prior to offering services through tappON. The police check provided is required to be less than 12 months old.  

This policy applies to all support professionals offering services via tappON and any tappON team members. 

What tappON needs;

• At the time of registration with tappON to create a profile support professionals are required to provide a valid police check (valid within 12 months)
• Update police check every 3 years 
• If a support professional is charged with, or convicted of any criminal offences they need to email and notify the tappON team immediately support@tappon.co 

All Criminal History records are provided by an accredited Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission agency representatives. To get a police check you can access services such as Checked https://www.checked.com.au 

Working with Children Checks 

If a support professional is offering a service to children (someone under the age of 18), a working with children check is required. This is a state by state system, with the outcome of a check either a clearance to work with children or a bar against working with children. It involves a National Police Check and a review of any reportable workplace misconduct. A working with children check cannot be accepted as an alternate to a police check. 

• NSW – Working with children checks are completed through Office of the Children’s Guardian. The check will last 5 years and needs to be renewed before it is due. You will receive a WWCC number. 
• QLD – A blue card is required to work with children in Queensland, and is valid for 3 years. 
• VIC – A working with children card is issued by the Victorian government, required for all support professionals working with children 18 years and under. The card is valid for 5 years and can be verified online using cardholders name and number. 
• SA – Screening for support professionals working with children, people with disabilities, vulnerable persons is conducted by the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion. 
• TAS – the Tasmanian government manages the Working with Children Registration. 
• NT – On the NT Police SAFE NT website you can apply or renew your card, check renewal date or request a replacement card.
• ACT – the government registers support professionals who are working with children and vulnerable people. It is valid for 3 years. 

Support professionals should carry a copy of their police check and if requested show to their clients. 

What the information is used for 

Information provided by reviewing a police check we will always comply with relevant commonwealth legislation and relevant state or territory authorities. 

tappOn is only able to use the information from police checks to screen, probity check and security vet support professionals who are offering or wanting to offer services via tappON’s platform. 

If requested by clients or businesses who engage support professionals via tappON we may provide a copy of your police check and/or Working with Children Check. 

How is the information accessed:

Having a disclosable outcome doesn’t automatically exclude you from offering your services on tappON. When assessing the policy history information we will consider:

1. the relevance of the police history information to the inherent requirements of the work they will be required to do
2. the seriousness of the conviction or offence
3. the severity of any penalty imposed
4. whether the offence has been decriminalised or removed from the statutes
5. whether in relation to the offence there was a finding or guilt but without conviction, which may generally indicate a less serious view of the offence by the courts
6. the age of the applicant when the offence occurred
7. the period of time that has elapsed since the offence took place
8. whether the applicant had a pattern of offences
9. the circumstances in which the offence took place – for example, domestic situation
10. whether the applicants circumstances have changed since the offence was committed, for example, previous drug use
11. the attitude of the applicant to their previous offending behaviour

Things on your police history which would exclude you from being a support professional

If a support professionals disclosable court outcomes includes a finding of guilt or conviction for any of the following they will be excluded from providing services:

1. Murder or sexual assault
2. Any other form of assault
3. Any offence involving harm or exploitation of vulnerable people
4. Any serious alcohol or drug related offences that indicate a pattern of dependence
5. Drug trafficking
6. Any offence involving serious dishonestly or multiple offences involving dishonesty
7. Terrorism 

If a support professional has been found guilty or convicted of more than one offence, they may also be excluded. 

If support professionals have recently been found guilty of multiple minor traffic offences, a serious traffic offence, or driving under the influence of alcohol they will not be able to list transport as a service on their profile. 

tappON’s responsibilities

All tappON authorised personnel

1. Are responsible for the management and protection of police history information at all times
2. Must not retain or reproduce police history information
3. Access what information needs to be disclosed on a case by case basis

We will keep a copy of the police check supplied by a support professional for 3 years