I am having so much traffic on this issue I felt the need to say something:
During the 2015 bid round I advised a longstanding client on how to complete the Criminal supervisor declaration. (This is not massively different to the 2016 “draft” save the 350 hour per year requirement is now reduced to only the last 12 and not the last 36 months).
He completed it as per my instructions and passed these on to a near neighbour undertaking the same task.
He heard no more and passed verification, his colleague however had his form rejected.
The detail of the rejection was immaterial but the message clear; however you complete the form they may well reject it.
To avoid a repeat of 2015, a JRS client asked for detailed instructions from the LAA during the FAQ process – these questions were ignored.
I have NOT been advising people of a correct interpretation of the form this time round as I don’t want, repeatedly, to be made a liar again. I do this for the following reasons.
- The single form requested at this stage is NOT mandatory.
- You have until December to provide this, and others, for satisfactory verification.
- By this stage they may well have provided clearer guidance, following pressure from the representative bodies.
- Practically we will learn from occasions when forms are rejected as to precisely what they require.
- In any event do not panic and refer to 1 above – a “wrong” supervisor form will NOT lead to the failure of your bid.
