We operate the PetCloud website as a place where Pet Carers can offer home-based care services to Pet Owners. We have made a commitment to protect vulnerable people and make sure that they are not placed at unreasonable risk by using our service.
This policy sets out what we need, where to get it what we’ll do with the information for the protection of our care workers and customers. It applies to all care workers providing or offering to provide services to customers via our website and all PetCloud employees who interact with vulnerable people.
What we need
As a result of our commitment to providing a safe environment for all Care Workers and Customers, we require all care workers using the PetCloud website to:
Police Checks
All Criminal History records provided must be from an accredited Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (formerly CrimTrac) agency or broker approved to access the National Police Checking Service or from State or Federal police:
A Working With Children Check (blue card) cannot be accepted as an alternative to a police check.
Our responsibilities
All PetCloud authorised personnel:
We will keep a copy of the police check supplied by a care worker for three years.
Care worker responsibilities
All new or existing care workers (and PetCloud employees covered by the scope of this policy), are to supply a valid police check prior to offering services on the website. The police check certificate provided by the care workers must be less than 12 months old, from the date of issue recorded on the police check certificate.
What we will do with the information
In reviewing a police check, we will always comply with:
We can only use the information in a police check to screen, probity check and security vet care workers who are offering or want to offer their services via our website or employees of PetCloud that have access to vulnerable people.
The following items will need to be assessed as “disclosable outcomes”:
If you have one of these on your PHI we are required to assess your application in accordance with all Privacy laws, Care Partner’s Privacy Policy and take into consideration the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 (Cth), Commonwealth Spent Convictions Scheme and the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth).
If requested, we may provide a copy of your Police Check to any clients or providers who engage you on PetCloud.
Confidentiality and discrimination
We must not discriminate on the grounds of a criminal record when making a decision. It is not an act of discrimination to find a care worker unsuitable if a criminal record means that person is unsuitable to perform the inherent or essential requirements of providing home-based pet care services for Pet Owners.
We will maintain complete confidentiality and protect care workers’ identities at all times and ensure the information about any criminal record is always used solely for the purposes in which it is intended.
PetCloud Sitters & Walkers should carry a copy of their police check and if requested, show it to the Pet Owner.
How we assess the information
Having a disclosable outcome does not automatically exclude you from offering services on the PetCloud website or being part of the PetCloud Team. When assessing the relevance of your police history information, we will consider:
Things on your police history which would exclude you from being a care worker
Care workers will however be excluded from providing home care services via the PetCloud website if their disclosable court outcomes include a finding of guilt or conviction for any of the following offences:
We may also exclude any care worker who has been found guilty or convicted of more than one offence, after consideration of the nature of the offence and other information.
Sitters who have recently been found guilty of multiple minor traffic offences, a serious traffic offence, or driving under the influence of alcohol will not be able to list transport as a service on their profile.
Sitters who have been found guilty of a serious traffic offense, including high range driving under the influence of alcohol, may be excluded after consideration of the nature of the offence and other information, including the period of time that has elapsed since the offence took place.
Respect privacy—your own and others’
In our work, we see people at some of the most vulnerable times in their lives. So to protect their privacy, there are some stories and details we simply can’t share publicly. It’s important you do not post anyone’s personal information—if you do, we’ll have to remove it. You should also think carefully before disclosing your own personal information.
Definitions
‘Authorised Personnel (AP)’
Designated Human Resources staff of PetCloud who are authorised to handle Police History Information (PHI) and other data relevant to care workers.
‘Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission Agency’
An Australian government executive agency, established by agreement between the Commonwealth, states and territories in July 2000. Formerly referred to as CrimTrac.
’Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission Broker’
An accredited Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission broker approved to access the National Police Checking Service.
’Disclosable outcome’
Record of court convictions and findings of guilt, to which provisions of relevant spent convictions / non-disclosable legislation and / or information release policies have been applied.
‘National Police History check (NPHC)‘
Otherwise known as a ‘police check’. An NPHC can only be obtained after an informed consent form has been completed by the applicant whose name will be checked and their identity has been established using the Austrac 100-point check methodology.
‘Police History Information (PHI)’
Information relating to disclosable court outcomes or other Information regarding the name provided to Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and included within a police check
PHI is only released subject to relevant spent convictions / non-disclosure legislation and / or information release policies.
‘Spent convictions’
Refers to both the Commonwealth Spent Convictions Scheme and various state and territories spent conviction legislation.
The spent conviction legislation is in place to prevent discrimination on the basis of certain previous convictions. The legislation limits the use and disclosure of older, less serious convictions and finding of guilt. Each state and territory of Australia have their own spent conviction legislation and will apply the relevant spent conviction legislation/ release policy prior to disclosure.
For more information
Please see:
Feedback
These policies will be updated throughout the year as required.
Your thoughts, comments and suggestions are welcome. Please direct any feedback to service@petcloud.com.au
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