How to use online recruitment checks to keep children safe in education

Following new guidance, how can schools make sure they are carrying out the necessary recruitment checks?

CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared on Local Government Association

The Keeping Children safe in Education (KCIE) statutory guidance is regularly updated, with a reference to conducting online searches of applicants contained in the latest iteration, which came into force from September 2022. The new guidance says:

‘In addition, as part of the shortlisting process, schools and colleges should consider carrying out an online search as part of their due diligence on the shortlisted candidates. This may help identify any incidents or issues that have happened, and are publicly available online, which the school or college might want to explore with the applicant at interview.’

It’s helpful to understand the incident that prompted the DfE to look to include that ‘should’ within the updated KCSIE guidance. We understand that, some years ago, there was a teaching assistant from abroad that was employed by a school in the UK. The school had completed the necessary criminal records checks; however, the law in the specific country stated that if a person under the age of 18 commits an offence, the offence is removed from their criminal record after 10 years. This individual had committed a very serious offence involving a small child but, because they were under 18 and applied for the job in the UK after 10 years, their criminal record was clear, and the school was not made aware of this issue. While the school did not do anything wrong, an internet search would have revealed this information.

Consultation revealed varying practice and views, but it was clear that some schools were informally doing this sort of online search. This update to the KCIE guidance is about formalising those searches and turns this into a ‘should’ for shortlisted candidates in relation to safeguarding suitability.

There isn’t currently any more detailed guidance; the DfE suggests schools should decide for themselves whether they have sufficient information to judge suitability; existing HR advice from local authorities and academy trust specialists should apply. Bearing in mind this is part of a safeguarding check, the search is purely about whether the individual is suitable to work with children. Care must be taken to avoid unconscious bias and any risk of discrimination. In line with that approach, it may be sensible to have someone not on the appointment panel to conduct the search – only sharing information that is relevant and of concern.

We are aware that some organisations are already offering to support schools by conducting these searches at cost, and that some legal and safeguarding experts have shared their interpretation of the DfE guidance which, we believe, goes further than the DfE policy intention – which is more simply an online search to check suitability of working with children.