Search Family References file
Children's safety lies at the heart of our approach. A Search Family who wants to post an offer online on Lingoo must create a References File as part of their profile.
• What does a Search Family References File contain?
The file includes the following:
- 2 Statements of Good Character provide evidence that the family is is fit and proper to act as a host.
Statements of Good Character are compulsory. If the subscriber has not provided these documents, a warning appears on their offer to alert families. Warning! MISSING DOCUMENT! |
• Who establishes these Statements of Good Character?
They are provided by people well established in the community and who have a good knowledge of the family. These Referees must accept to be contacted by interested families for confirmation of their reference; they can choose the mode of contact they prefer (e-mail, telephone, fax, etc). Referees can be:
- an employer;
- a religious minister (Priest, Bishop, Pasteur, Imam, Rabbi, according to the religious practice);
- a family doctor;
- a teacher or an administrator of the school attended by the children;
- a lawyer;
- a member of the police force ;
- upstanding citizens who hold an office of responsibility ( Local or national government official, Banker, Head Teacher, etc) and are close to the family (members of the family, neighbours, friends).
• What should a Statement of Good Character include?
The Statement of Good Character must be dated and show the person's name and address (preferably their business address). .
Here are some examples of the kind of phrases you would expect to find in a statement of this kind:
- "is someone of honesty and integrity";
- "is well known in their community and leads a respectable life"; ;
- "has a clear sense of morality";
- "is trustworthy".
If the person writing the statement is a close friend, neighbour or relative, it's a good idea to make the reference more personal by stating how long the writer has known the family, the qualities they see in them and what aspects of their lives lead them to believe that the family has the ability and the necessary skills to host a child from another country. Useful tip!
Make it easier for your character referees to write your Statements of Good Character: once you've registered, go to your account page and click on Model Letters. .
• How do I add the Statements of Good Character to my References File?
In your account page, click on Upload/ Edit your References File. Useful tip!
If you don't have an electronic copy of the document and you don't have a scanner, or you have any problems with uploading a file, Lingoo is here to help. Contact us, send us the document and we'll be delighted to upload it for you.
• How does a Search Family send its References File to a family who is interested in it?
The file is stored hidden on the Host Family's profile. It can be sent to families who are interested on request (in your account page click on Send confidential files).
• How do you access a Search Family’s References File?
For reasons of confidentiality, the file is stored hidden on the Search family’s profile. Once you've made initial contact with a Search Family whose offer you are interested in, ask them to send you their References File.
• At what point should a young person's family check the Statements of Good Character ?
You should do this once you have selected a family and talked to them, but before you start organising the trip together.
• How can you check a Statement of Good Character with the person who has provided it
To check a reference, first ensure that the business contact details shown are correct, for example by checking the Yellow Pages for the country concerned on the Internet. Then contact the person to ask for confirmation.
To find out what a Host Family References File includes, click here.
