ARCHIVED - 2012 Screening Handbook

The 2012 edition of the volunteer Screening Handbook  — a tool for organizations serving communities and vulnerable members of society, including children and seniors — was  launched by Public Safety Canada and Volunteer Canada in October 2012.

The 2012 volunteer Screening Handbook is an invaluable tool for community service organizations to improve the safety and quality of programs whose volunteers and employees are in trusted positions. Organizations and individuals can use the information in the handbook, whether they have longstanding screening practices, are new to screening, or are revising or developing their screening practices. The 2012 handbook sets out a standard of care for volunteer organizations including those serving people who are vulnerable, i.e. children and seniors. Its 10 Steps to Screening and the Canadian Code for Volunteer Involvement recognize the importance of volunteer involvement in society, as well as volunteers' responsibilities.

Today, strong screening practices are integral to volunteerism and help build safe and resilient communities. The handbook defines screening as an ongoing process to better match people's skills and experience to the needs and opportunities in organizations; to improve the quality and safety of programs and services in communities; and to reduce the risks and liability for both people and organizations.

The handbook will help organizations structure interviews and references. It also contains information on how to submit police checks, which could provide the organization with information such as a history of criminal and non-criminal offences, convictions, pending convictions, record suspensions (pardons), suspects, complainants, witnesses, and incidents involving the police. An organization can then consider this information when determining if a volunteer is fit to work with vulnerable people.

By raising awareness and promoting the 10 Steps of Screening, the Government of Canada is working to prevent the abuse of dependent or vulnerable people.

The need for an updated screening handbook was supported by non-profit, public and private sector leaders at the National Dialogue on Screening sponsored by Public Safety Canada and Volunteer Canada in November 2011. The new edition meets that need, taking into account the current trends in volunteering, shifts in public policy, and changes in legislation, such as access to information and privacy legislation at provincial/territorial and community levels.

The 2012 Screening Handbook is available on Public Safety Canada's website at:
http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/scrnng-hndbk/index-eng.aspx.

Date modified:

2015-11-20