Note: This article was originally posted in our Autumn 2018 newsletter, and has not been updated.
The College has a duty to regulate midwifery in the public interest. One of the ways College will fulfill this duty effective April 1, 2019, is by requiring applicants and members to adhere to the new Criminal Record Screening Policy. Click here to review the policy.
The Registration Regulation provides the grounds for establishing the “good character” and suitability of an applicant and member to practise the profession.
However, beyond self-disclosure or information coming to the attention of the College, applicants were not screened in a consistent manner to determine if they met the good character requirements of the Registration Regulation.
As midwives work with clients at a very important time in their lives, and work in a variety of practice environments, including clients’ homes, it is important for us to effectively screen for good character. For these reasons, Council decided to implement a Criminal Record Screening Policy.
The aim of this new policy is to mitigate the potential risks of registering an applicant who may not practise midwifery with decency, honesty, integrity, and in accordance with the law, as required by the Registration Regulation.
Following a comprehensive review of the different processes available Council determined that College applicants should be required to submit the results of a Vulnerable Sector Check.
Requirements for Applicants
Effective April 1, 2019, all applicants must submit the results of a Vulnerable Sector Check as part of their application to the College. The applicant is responsible for obtaining the correct Vulnerable Sector Check and paying all related fees. Further information on this will be provided in the registration process. You can also review the policy here for more information.
Requirements for Members
The new Criminal Record Screening Policy states that members must submit the results of a Vulnerable Sector Check to the College if the College requests. Please review the policy here for more information.
Good Character Guide
After submitting a Vulnerable Sector Check, an applicant or member may be referred to a panel of the Registration Committee. This panel would determine if the findings in the Vulnerable Sector Check mean the applicant or member does not meet the good character requirements in the Registration Regulation.
The Good Character Guide will be used as a tool to help panel members determine this, and members and applicants are encouraged to review the Good Character Guide for further information.