Reference Check
Child Abuse Registry Check
Any organization staffing for a position where the applicant will be working in close proximity with children may obtain request forms from either Faye Townsend at (902) 424-3201 or Leonard Doiron at (902) 424-3867 or through Mr. Doiron's e-mail at DOIRONLC@gov.ns.ca.
The applicant will take the form to an officer of oaths in whose presence s/he will complete and sign the form. The top portion of these forms is to be completed by the organization requesting the search and send it to the following address:
Child Abuse Register
Family and Children's Services Division
Department of Community Services
P.O. Box 696
Halifax , NS B3J 2T7
The organization requesting the search will receive the response in writing within four to six weeks.
Criminal Record Search
Criminal record searches are one way of narrowing the field of applicants. A policy of accepting only those applicants that will pass a criminal record search may significantly reduce the number of unsuitable candidates and in some cases prevent liability issues.
Criminal record searches for volunteer positions are available through the RCMP or Halifax Regional Policing Service depending upon which organization polices the area in which the applicant lives.
RCMP
If the applicant lives within an area policed by the RCMP there is no charge for a criminal record search and it usually takes from one to five business days to obtain a response.
The applicants must request the search by presenting themselves to the local RCMP detachment and filling in a form for this purpose. It is necessary to have 2 pieces of government issued identification one of which must be a picture ID (passport or driver's license). After completion of this search the document is to be picked up by the applicant.
Halifax Regional Policing Service
If the applicant lives within an area policed by the Halifax Regional Policing Service there is a charge of $25* plus tax. The search will take between two and five business days to complete.
The applicant must write a letter requesting the search be completed and show 2 pieces of Identification one of which must be a government issued picture ID (passport or driver's license). The applicant is to pick up the response at the local detachment of the Halifax regional Policing Service.
*Please note that this charge can be reduced to $10 plus tax if the organization has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Halifax Regional Policing Service.
This MOU is obtained by sending a letter outlining the fact that the organization is a non profit entity and that the search is completed on volunteers as part of the screening process to:
Staff Sergeant Greg Mosher
Halifax Regional Police Service
1975 Gottingen street
Halifax , NS B3J 2H1
References
Each applicant should be asked to supply the addresses and telephone numbers of at least two references (employment references where possible) preferably on a release form allowing the organization to perform the background check.
These references should be asked to supply information as to the applicant's work history (dates attendance punctuality, strengths, weaknesses, and how they interacted with other employees). The references should also be asked whether they would hire the individual again.
The references should be recorded on sheets created with the questions printed and spaces for the responses. These sheets should also include the name of the Reference as well as the date the Reference was contacted, the organization they are with and the interviewer's name. these sheets should be included in the Volunteer's file.
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