Guidance notes for applicants
Statement of Approach: Engaging Self-Employed Members with Unspent Convictions
Purpose
Viewber is committed to fair and inclusive engagement practices while ensuring the safety and security of our clients and the general public. As part of our due diligence when engaging self-employed members who enter private residences or sensitive environments, we require all self-employed members to provide a valid certification before commencing work with us. The following certifications are accepted:
- DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check
- AccessNI certification
- Disclosure Scotland certificate
This statement outlines our approach to handling self-employed members with unspent convictions, ensuring compliance with legal obligations while maintaining fairness in our assessment process.
Scope
This statement applies to all self-employed members engaged by Viewber. It does not create an employment relationship or imply an employer-worker arrangement. Instead, it provides transparency on how we assess convictions when considering engagements.
Consideration of Unspent Convictions
We will consider unspent convictions when assessing potential self-employed members, but the presence of an unspent conviction does not automatically prevent an individual from working with Viewber. Each disclosure is considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into account:
- The nature of the offence
- Its relevance to the work being undertaken
- The time elapsed since the conviction
- Any evidence of rehabilitation
Convictions That May Result in Non-Engagement
Due to the nature of the work, which involves entering private homes and interacting with members of the public, certain unspent convictions are unlikely to be considered. These include, but are not limited to:
- Offences related to dishonesty, such as theft, burglary, or fraud
- Violent offences, including assault, robbery, or any offence involving harm to others
- Sexual offences or any offences that indicate a risk to public safety
- Criminal damage, particularly where it indicates a risk to property
Spent Convictions
For the avoidance of doubt, we do not take into consideration any spent convictions, in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Only unspent convictions will be considered as part of our assessment process.
Confidentiality & Data Protection
Any information disclosed via a DBS check, AccessNI certification, or Disclosure Scotland certificate is handled with strict confidentiality and in compliance with UK GDPR and data protection laws. Information will only be used for the purpose of assessing suitability for engagement and will not be retained beyond what is necessary.