The HSE will carry out Garda Vetting Clearance on all new employees where their role is engaged in relevant work (e.g. access to, or contact with, children or vulnerable adults). New employees engaging in relevant work will not take up duty until the Garda Vetting Clearance process has been completed and the HSE is satisfied that such an appointment does not pose a risk to clients, service users and employees.
As part of the Garda Vetting process an applicant must disclose any and all convictions. This disclosure must include such offences as driving offences, non-payment of a TV licence and public order offences, and includes the application of probation or community service. This covers offences in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
All applicants will sign a detailed Standard Declaration which forms an integral part of their application form. Candidates who apply using the online application form and application forms submitted by e-mail will be required to sign the Standard Declaration in person when they attend for interview.
The HSE will refer to the An Garda Síochána individuals who wilfully submit, by omission or otherwise, false, misleading or inaccurate information in connection with their application for posts with the HSE or on the Garda E-Vetting Form as provided for under the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004.
Further information on the Garda Vetting process is available from the National Vetting Bureau: https://vetting.garda.ie/Help/FAQ
Applicants who have resided overseas for a period of 6 months or more:
If you lived in any country for 6 months or more from the date of your 16th birthday other than the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland it will be mandatory to provide security clearance for each jurisdiction in which you have resided stating that you have no convictions recorded against you while residing there. All appointments will require satisfactory security clearances. Please note if you require overseas security clearance and are unable to produce it at the time of job offer then the job offer may be withdrawn.
Your security clearance must be dated AFTER you left that country and cover the entire period of your residence. Seeking security clearances from other countries (e.g. UK, USA etc) are the responsibility of the candidate. It is a process which can take an amount of time. Therefore if you are interested in pursuing a career within the HSE we would strongly advise that you commence seeking international security clearances now.
Note: Candidates who studied outside of the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland e.g. in the UK (excluding Northern Ireland), please pay particular attention to this. You will require UK clearance to cover the entire period you were in the UK. Clearance must be dated after you left the UK.
The following websites may be of assistance to you in this regard:
United Kingdom
https://www.acro.police.uk/police-certificates
http://www.police.uk/forces/ website will provide you with a link to each police force site in the UK. Click on the relevant force covering the area where you resided. A search under Data Protection or Data Access Request or Subject Access Request will bring you to the relevant section of that Police Forces website.
https://www.gov.uk/browse/working/finding-job (this website will provide you with a list of registered agencies to contact in the UK who may process your request for UK clearance with the Criminal Records Bureau).
Australia
www.afp.gov.au website will provide you with information on obtaining a national police clearance certificate for Australia
New Zealand
www.police.govt.nz website will provide you with information on obtaining police clearance in New Zealand.
United States of America
Please note that valid Security/Overseas Clearance from the USA must be obtained from the FBI only.
FBI Clearance is valid for all of the United States and convictions / remarks occurring anywhere in the United States would be noted. Individual US State Clearance (e.g. New York State Clearance) is not acceptable as it is valid for that State alone and convictions / remarks occurring in other States may or may not be noted.
Other Countries
For other countries not listed above you may find it helpful to contact the relevant embassies who could provide you with information on seeking Police Clearance.
Please do not send us your overseas clearance or any other documentation unless we request it from you. Candidates who accept a job offer will have specified timeline within which to produce the required documentation; otherwise the job offer will be withdrawn. These timelines are communicated to you at proceed to pre-employment clearances stage – typically this is 5 working days.
When requested, a copy of your overseas Clearance will be retained on file and the original returned to you by post.
Note: Any costs incurred in this process will be borne by the candidate.
