<back

If you apply to become a member of AP, you’ll be asked if you have any disclosures to make. The application form asks the following questions:

• Do you have a conviction which is not spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 in the UK, or a conviction in another country which might prejudice the public’s trust in you, your profession or AP if accurately informed about the details?
  
  
• Have you ever been found guilty of a civil offence (with the exception of parking or speeding offences)?
  
  
• Have you ever been refused/ expelled from membership of any other professional body/ register on the grounds of professional misconduct or other professional related offence?
  
  
• Have you ever been the subject of any professionally related disciplinary action?
  
  
• Are you currently / likely to be the subject of any criminal, civil, investigatory or disciplinary proceedings or enquiries?
  
  
• Have you ever been, or are you likely to be involved in a situation or incident likely to result in disciplinary action against you as a member of AP?
  
  

Why does AP ask for this information?

AP has an overarching duty to protect the public and the reputation of both AP and the addiction professions. In order to do this, it needs to assess that applicants and members are safe to work with clients and are able to comply with AP’s Standards of Conduct and Ethics.

Where AP is in receipt of information that suggests an applicant is not suitable for membership, an application may be rejected.  It is important that AP makes sufficient enquiries with an applicant who makes a disclosure, so that we can make a fully informed decision.

What happens if I make a disclosure?

If you answer yes to any of the disclosure questions, at the time you submit your application form you will be asked to provide some basic information. You may then be asked to submit some additional information before you are accepted for membership, including references from a supervisor or tutor, and you may be invited for a brief interview.

Under our membership terms and conditions AP can decline any application for membership. An application may be declined where there is information to suggest that allowing an applicant into membership could:

• Bring the reputation of AP into disrepute
• Bring the reputations of the addiction professions into disrepute
• Result in AP’s private business being brought into the public domain
• Impede the legitimate activities of the organisation
• Give good reason to believe an applicant could or has misrepresented his/her/the organisation’s membership status
• Give good reason to believe the applicant has not or will not work to AP’s Code of Standards and Ethics

If information comes to light once you’re a member that you should have disclosed on application, but didn’t, it may result in action being taken and your membership withdrawn.

Conviction disclosures

AP can only consider convictions or cautions which are not “spent” as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974), as amended by the Legal Aid and Sentencing Punishment Act.

AP cannot provide you with any legal advice as to whether your conviction is spent or unspent, and you should make enquires before you make a disclosure to AP. Organisations such as the CAB may be able to assist you, but AP doesn’t endorse any organisation.

If you have disclosed a dismissal or were disciplined or expelled from a membership organisation or by an employer, you may be asked to provide a letter confirming the reasons for your dismissal.

AP may undertake an online search in relation to information about you that is available in the public domain, if appropriate.

The information that AP requests will depend on what you have disclosed.

Making disclosures at other times

AP’s Code of Standards and Ethics requires members to inform AP in the following circumstances:

‘Practitioners will promptly notify AP about any criminal charges, convictions or disciplinary procedures brought against them by their organisation or professional body.  Practitioners will also notify AP of civil claims arising from work in the professional sector, or if they have been declared bankrupt.’

AP will also ask members to make disclosures when they renew membership.