Key Definitions and Threshold Criteria

These procedures must be considered where an individual working or volunteering with

children or adults at risk is alleged to have:

1. Behaved in a way that has harmed, or may have harmed, a child or adult at risk.
2. Possibly committed a criminal offence against, or related to, a child or adult at risk.
3. Behaved towards a child or adult in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm.
4. Behaved in their personal life in a way that may indicate they pose a risk within their identified employment/volunteering

These are the Four Threshold Criteria.

These threshold criteria also apply when the individual works within an agency/setting where there are regulatory/professional body requirements e.g. police, probation, doctor, teacher.

A Person in a Position of Trust holds a role involving authority, influence, power or responsibility for children or adults with care and support needs. They must not abuse that position for exploitation, manipulation, or harm.

Pointers for Practice: Threshold & Decision Making