Taking Care - Child Protection Guidelines

POCVA - Your Questions Answered

1. What does POCVA stand for?

The Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults.

2. Is it law that everyone working with children and young people should receive a POCVA check?

It is not law at the moment, but it soon will be. It is good practice and it is the policy of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.

3. Who should be POCVA checked?

All leaders, volunteers, teachers and staff members who are working with children and young people on a regular basis need to receive a POCVA check if they have been appointed since 2005.

4. Can all existing leaders be POCVA checked?

No, only leaders who have been appointed since 2005 are checked.

5. Do I have to receive a POCVA check from the Presbyterian church when I am already checked though another organisation i.e. Education and Library Board, Sport Association?

Yes! Each appointment is treated separately.

6. How long will a POCVA check take to process?

4 to 6 weeks in normal circumstances but sometimes longer.

7. Do leaders used on a rota basis have to be POCVA checked?

No. As long as they are only used occasionally and never have one to one contact with members of the group other than their own children.

8. How often do I need to renew POCVA checks?

Only one POCVA check is needed for each person at this moment in time.

9. If someone who is already POCVA checked takes up a new position within the same congregation do they need to be re-checked?

No. POCVA is valid for any position within the same congregation. So if a Youth Club leader who has a POCVA check decides to help out in the BB he does not need a new POCVA check.

10. If a person has a POCVA check for their congregation and they move churches, do they need to apply again for a new POCVA check?

Yes. A POCVA check will only be valid for the one congregation. The only exception to this is a Church which is a 'Joint Charge'.

11. What about Young Leaders, do they have to be POCVA checked?

A 'Young Leader' or helper is a person aged 15-18. Only persons aged 18 and over can be POCVA checked. Therefore, young leaders can volunteer but they are not to be left alone with children and must be with someone else who has been POCVA checked.

12. Do volunteers have to pay for a POCVA check?

No, currently there is no cost incurred for a POCVA check either by the volunteer/paid worker, congregation or the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.

13. Surely if leaders have a POCVA check I can do without interviewing and references?

No! POCVA complements standard recruitment practices but cannot replace them.

14. What happens if a prospective leader refuses to fill in the Application Form for a POCVA check?

Their application cannot be processed and your congregation/organisation will not be able to use them.

15. Where can I get an application form?

If you do not already have one, the current application form (TCF02/05) can be downloaded or can be obtained from the Taking Care Office. Once completed, a copy of the form should be kept and the original sent to the Taking Care Office.

Before you send an application form to us, please check:

Are you using the correct form (TCF02/05)?
Have applicants answered every question including their National Insurance number?
Have the forms been signed by the Minister or Kirk Session representative?