4.2 When to Consider Issuing an Exemption

There are two types of Exemption:

Exemptions for Unobtainable Vetting Checks

There are several occasions when a vetting check might be unobtainable:

• It is not listed on either of the suggested websites.
• It is listed but there is advice in the Unobtainable Vetting Checks List to suggest it is not obtainable.
• The applicant has made every reasonable attempt but is unable to meet the criteria.
• In a small number of cases it may be theoretically possible to obtain a vetting check but due to the political situation in the country or the circumstances under which the applicant left it may be inadvisable to do so.

Temporary Exemptions as an Interim Measure

There are occasions when a vetting check is obtainable but not immediately.

Example One:

The vetting check is only available by visiting a specified office in the country that the vetting check is for.  If the applicant still visits that country, they would then be able to obtain the vetting check upon their next visit.

Example Two:

Fingerprints are not available in the country of the chaplaincy in the specified format required for the vetting check.  If the applicant still visits the country that the vetting check is for, they would then be able to give fingerprints during their next visit.

Example Three:

A vetting check (such as the FBI Check and the Military Service Records Check) takes a number of weeks to arrive which results in a long delay to completion of the Safeguarding Check.

It is possible that these and similar situations may then prevent an individual from starting in their role and the chaplaincy are in urgent need of volunteers to begin their duties.

In such circumstances, but only when necessary, a Temporary Exemption can be issued.