At the Regular Board Meeting held on November 21, 2023, the Board of Trustees approved revisions to Policy II-37 Volunteers in Catholic Schools. The revised policy includes additional requirements for parents, guardians and community members interested in volunteering at HCDSB schools.
New Requirements for Volunteers
New requirements in Policy II-37 include the following:
- A volunteer who is 18 years of age or older must submit a Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC) to the School Principal prior to volunteering and once again every four (4) years.
- The VSC must be dated within 120 days of submission to the School Principal.
- Volunteers with a VSC for which an official pardon has not been received, will not be accepted as a volunteer in the school. NOTE: This is not a change in practice as this has always been a requirement, however it is now specifically noted in Policy II-37 to ensure clarity.
What is a Vulnerable Sector Check?
A Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC) is required when a paid or volunteer position is one of authority and trust relative to children or vulnerable persons.
The VSC is the highest level of police check specific to volunteers and includes the following information:
- Criminal convictions from Canadian Policing Information Centre and/or local databases;
- Summary convictions, for five years, when identified;
- Findings of Guilt under the Youth Criminal Justice Act within the applicable disclosure period. Only for persons applying for a position with a government agency (federal, provincial, municipal);
- Outstanding entries such as charges and warrants, judicial orders, Peace Bonds, Probation and Prohibition Orders;
- Absolute and conditional discharges for one or three years respectively;
- In very exceptional cases, where it meets the Exceptional Disclosure Assessment, non-conviction dispositions including, but not limited to, Withdrawn and Dismissed;
- Not Criminally Responsible by Reason of Mental Disorder
- All record suspensions as authorized for release by the Minister of Public Safety.
What Does this Mean for Current Volunteers?
All current and returning volunteers must already have a VSC on file but will need to ensure it is dated within the past four (4) years. If the VSC is not current, the volunteer must submit a new VSC by March 1, 2024 in order to continue volunteering at the school.
In addition to the VSC requirements, a volunteer must also continue to complete an Annual Volunteer Criminal Offence Declaration Form before being accepted as a returning volunteer.
How to Apply for a Vulnerable Sector Check
Anyone seeking to volunteer at an HCDSB school must apply for a VSC through Halton Regional Police Services (HRPS) either online (recommended) or in person at HRPS Headquarters, located at 2485 North Service Road West in Oakville.
If applying online, visit the Police Records Checks page on the HRPS website, and click on Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC).
More Information
- Read Policy II-37 Volunteers in Catholic Schools.
- Additional information about volunteering at HCDSB schools is available here.
- Learn more about the Vulnerable Sector Check on the HRPS website.
Volunteers are valued members of our HCDSB community who help to foster positive relationships and play a significant role in enhancing the educational experience of our students. The revisions to Policy II-37 continue to enhance our commitment to providing safe learning environments in each of our HCDSB schools.