The Early Intervention Service has a dedicated Child Employment & Enforcement Officer who is responsible for licencing children to take up part time employment.
It can be a great experience for young people to have a part time job while still at school - and we would support that - but we want our children to work safely and within the law.
A young person who has not yet reached compulsory school leaving age is required by law to be registered by their employer with Bolton Council. If they are not, firstly they are working illegally and will not be covered by the employer’s liability insurance and secondly the employer would be in contravention of the legislation and would be liable on summary conviction to a fine up to £1,000.
The application is quick & easy. The employer will be given guidance on the permitted hours of employment and the type of work the young person is permitted to carry out. The employer is required to carry out a risk assessment and should take into account the young person’s age and inexperience. The risk assessment must be shared with the parent and the child. The application form is in 2 sections – Section A to be completed by the employer and Section B to be completed by the parent/carer of the child and this should be returned to the Early Intervention and Connexions Service.
In winter concerns are heightened about the welfare of the newspaper deliverer, the leaflet 'Delivering Safety' produced by the National Federation of Retail Newsagents is available on their website or from the Child Employment & Enforcement Officer.