Apply for a chaperone licence

The Isle of Wight Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you are applying for the first time or if you have not renewed your licence within one month after your existing licence expired you will need to:

1. Complete the Chaperone (Matron) Licence application form.
2. Complete a Child Workforce Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) check if you do not already hold one (see 'Fees' section below).  If applicable, the link to complete a DBS will be sent to you following receipt of your application.
3. Provide us with original copies of three forms of ID to enable us to verify your identity as part of the DBS application process, if applicable.   
4. Provide contact details of two persons who can each supply a reference to support the application. One of whom should have known the applicant in a professional capacity and not solely through the organisation for which they wish to become a chaperone. One must also be able to evidence the applicant’s successful working with children in either a professional or a voluntary capacity. Referees should have known the applicant for at least 2 years and cannot be family, partner or partners family.  All Isle of Wight Council posts (paid or voluntary) will require references covering a minimum 5 years employment.  Where a gap or two weeks or more is identified, this must be covered by a character reference.
5. Complete our 'How to be an Effective Chaperone' online training. We will provide you with details of how to access the training.
6. Complete our online Level 1 ‘Safeguarding Children’ training.  We will provide you with details on how to access the training. If you already hold a valid certificate, you will be asked to provide us with a copy.
7. Provide a passport size photo of the yourself. The photograph supplied will be used & stored for the sole purpose of providing a licence to act as a chaperone.
8. Attend a short interview once the above steps have been completed.

View our privacy notice.

The current fees for a chaperone licence are as follows:

• Volunteer - £25.00 (£18.00 reduced price is payable if applicant is part of DBS Update Service or holds a current Enhanced Child Workforce DBS disclosure issued by the Isle of Wight Council (for example, you are a current IW Council employee))
• Professional - £80.00 (£33.00 reduced price is payable if applicant is part of DBS Update Service or holds a current Enhanced Child Workforce DBS disclosure issued by the Isle of Wight Council (for example, you are a current IW Council employee))

Once your application has been submitted, you will receive an email from us within seven working days. The email will explain how to make your DBS application and complete the Chaperone and Child Safeguarding training modules. Once these have been completed and we have received satisfactory references we will contact you to arrange a time for your interview. Currently we are conducting interviews via Microsoft Teams as we are unable to facilitate a face to face meeting at this time.

You will need to complete all steps within eight weeks of your application. If you have not completed them within these timescales we reserve the right to withdraw your application without refund. No refunds will be given in the instance of a refused chaperone licence.

We cannot guarantee a timescale for issuing a chaperone licence but you should apply at least 12 weeks prior to the date the licence is required. Your chaperone licence will be posted to you when we have:

• completed all the necessary checks
• received your references
• received your completed DBS check
• had confirmation that you have completed the Chaperone and Child Safeguarding training modules

The chaperone licence is valid for three years from the date of issue. During your licence period you must complete an annual declaration to confirm that your status has not changed since your application. The annual declaration form will be emailed to you each year after your licence was first issued. If the form it is not returned within the specified time, your chaperone licence will be revoked and you will no longer be able to chaperone.

The council has a statutory duty to protect children who are engaged in the performance industry. Chaperones act on behalf of the licensing authority and work to safeguard the health and well-being of children involved. We provide online chaperone training and child safeguarding training which explains the roles and responsibilities of a chaperone and information on child protection/safeguarding. This training is mandatory for chaperones and must be completed before your licence can be issued.

It is your responsibility to reapply after your licence expires at the end of the three year period if you wish to continue to chaperone. Renewal applications must be made within one month of your current licence expiring or a new application will need to be made.

To apply to renew a chaperone licence you will need to:

1. Complete the Renewal Chaperone (Matron) Licence application form.
2. Complete an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) check or confirm that have a current child workforce Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) registered with the DBS update service.
3. Complete our 'How to be an Effective Chaperone' online training. We will provide you with details on how to access the training.
4. Complete our ‘Safeguarding Children’ online training if you do not already hold a valid child safeguarding certificate. 
5. Supply one passport size photo of the applicant. The photograph supplied will be used and stored for the sole purpose of providing a licence to act as a Chaperone.
6. If you require a DBS check you will need to provide us with original copies of your ID documents (three forms of ID are required) from a list that we will send you, so that we can verify your identity as part of the DBS application process.  If you hold a current child workforce Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) registered with the DBS update service you will be asked to show us your original certificate.  You will be asked to complete an ID check so we can verify these documents.

View our privacy notice.

The current fees for a chaperone renewal licence are as follows:

Professional - £65.00 (£10.00 reduced price is payable if applicant is part of DBS Update Service or holds a current Enhanced Child Workforce DBS disclosure issued by the Isle of Wight Council (for example, you are a current IW Council employee))

If you are unsure whether you are part of the DBS Update Service please contact us by using our contact us section, before submitting the renewal application form.

Please be aware that once the application form has been submitted a refund cannot be guaranteed. No refunds will be given in the instance of a refused chaperone licence.

Once your renewal application has been submitted, you will receive an email from us within seven working days. You will need to complete all steps within four weeks of your application. If you have not completed them within these timescales we reserve the right to withdraw your application without refund. No refunds will be given in the instance of a refused chaperone licence.