Healthcare and Medical Worker police checks in Australia

The common and standard background check in Australia is the Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC). It may be referred to as a police check.

The (NCCHC) Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check is usually conducted regarding specific issues but produces a general overview of the candidate's relevant court records.

A check result for healthcare workers may list the following police information:

• charges
• court convictions, including penalties and sentences
• findings of guilt with no conviction
• court appearances
• good behaviour bonds or other court orders
• matters awaiting court hearing
• warrants and/or warnings
• traffic offences.

The records appearing in a Nationally Coordinated History check are called the Disclosable Court Outcomes (DCO). It simply refers to the outcomes or results of a candidate's history that can be disclosed in accordance with the spent convictions legislation and information release policies.

The results provided on a check will outline whether the applicant has No Disclosable Court Outcomes (NDCO) or Disclosable Court Outcomes (DCO):

• NDCO means there is:
• no police information held against the applicant
• no police information that can be released according to the purpose and category of the police check, and the application of relevent spent convictions legislations and/or information release policies.
• DCO means there is:
• police information that can be released.

The Disclosable Court Outcomes for such a police check may also include past cases where the candidate has worked or committed a criminal offence in such roles. For example, suppose the candidate has worked as a doctor, nurse, lab scientist, paediatrician, lab technologist, medical lab records team or any other medical-related role. In that case, their records will be pulled from the point of past offences with the Australian criminal justice system (if applicable).

If the national police checking system generates a potential match, it will be referred to the relevant police agency (or agencies) for further assessment. If the police agency confirms the applicant’s details do not match the police information, a ‘No Disclosable Court Outcome’ result will be provided. If the police agency determines the applicant’s details do match the police information, a referral is generated with the relevant police agency for them to conduct their ‘vetting’ process.

The police check is a national means of background check for applicants across various industries or needs.

You can apply for a Healthcare worker police check if you are applying for any of the following roles;

• Health instructor,
• Matron/Ward director
• Doctor, Surgeon or Medical Specialist
• Psychologist
• Therapist
• Physiotherapist
• Frontline Healthcare workers
• Paramedical staff
• Lab attendants and technologists
• Medical technicians
• Other teams in a healthcare area.

The online method of applying for the police check tends to be a fast and easy way to obtain your police check. You can apply using any of your devices, including mobile, tablets or PC connected over the internet.

Australian National Character Check (ANCC) offers a platform for candidates to apply.

ANCC also includes support and further information sections to assist the applicant throughout the process.

Steps to apply for a nationally coordinated criminal history check via ANCC:

1. Log in to the online portal of Australian National Character Check (ANCC).
2. Select the "Start a Check" option on the homepage
3. Select the category for the police check you want to apply, e.g. Employment, etc.
4. Proceed with the application by paying the base fee
5. Complete the application details/required fields for the police check
6. Cross-check and ensure that all areas you select are correct and verifiable
7. Provide the necessary corroborating IDs for the respective fields you provide. (4)
8. Monitor your application through the track check function.

The police check result is a point-in-time check and hsa no set date of expiry.

The NCCHC result is valid up until its date of issue.

The validity of a police check for healthcare workers depends on the internal risk management of the hospital or employer. Usually most employers will not accept police checks older than 3 months from their date of issue.

70 percent of police checks for healthcare workers are returned to applicants within 24 hours. Results are emailed on the same day they are received. Approximately 30 percent of checks may be referred to one or more police agencies and can take longer than 10 business days to be returned, due to the manual nature of this process.

A ‘potential match’ may be found if the applicant shares similar details with other individuals recorded in police systems, particularly if they have a common name. Processing of a check in these instances can take longer to progress.

Approved medical practices or hospitals can streamline the application or manage all police check applications or statuses using a business account through ANCC.

Australian National Character Check allows approved businesses within Australia to manage their employees' police checks. Through this account, an organisation can;

• Check the status of an employee's police check
• Request for the result of the police check
• Apply for an update on the police check

Businesses and organisations can manage the entire NCCHC/police check application process by creating a business account with ANCC.

Approved medical practices or hospitals can streamline the application or manage all police check applications or statuses using a business account through ANCC.

Australian National Character Check allows approved businesses within Australia to manage their employees' police checks. Through this account, an organisation can;

• Check the status of an employee's police check
• Request for the result of the police check
• Apply for an update on the police check

Since most Healthcare or medical roles include sensitive and cautious operations, it is common for most healthcare organisations to request a police check (NCCHC) from employees.

Police checks can be incorporated into your current practices by opening a business account with ANCC.