General Chat

Looks like everyone is now guilty until they can prove their innocence.

I just heard about this on the radio and I can see what the use is of it, but on the other hand I wonder what happens if - say - you are a parent helping out the parent of your child's friend by taking both your child and their friend to Scouts, swimming, dancing, whatever else because the other child's parent works late so you take them both to the group to help out?

I would hate to think it would put people off helping out other parents/friends. There was a drum teacher on our local radio saying that he has tried to get a CRB check but because he works individually rather than being part of an organisation, they don't seem to think he's a priority.

I think it might also apply to some unpaid groups anyway - I help out with a local group of Rainbows as a volunteer and I've just had a CRB check.

Just listening on news, and I don't have a problem with this at all , it will help keep kids just that bit safer so worth it surely? I would not object to being checked if it were me...why should I ?
I get 'credit checked' and sometimes pay for that....surely checking to see I am 'safe' to be around kids is more important.

It won't affect unofficial volunteers like for example the person who gives son a lift from kick boxing....that would only apply if they volunteered 'through' the kick boxing club itself.

I think CRB checks are good in helping keep children safe. But remember they only identify people who have already been caught being naughty. They do not show up the people who are naughty but havent been caught yet. These are the people i'm more worried about.

Volunteers in schools have a CRB check, so do volunteers with the disabled.

Didn't Ian Huntley have a CRB check and Passed. Hope they have really improved on this now.

Isnt that the case in everyday life?though........Brian....
get stopped by old bill and their attitude is.............PROVE you are legal/innocent...........
I once was stopped because I inadvertantly let my nearside wheels cross a solid white line, dis-regarding the fact that THEY were Tailgating ME, and I thought that they wanted to come by.........so I had made room for them.........
""we have stopped you and we are entitled to breathalyse you........""

As a volunteer years ago at my children's schools I was CRB checked and, now that I work with children, I still am regularly and I'm glad of it. What worries me is the length of time that a CRB check can take to come through - sometimes up to 6 months. I've sent mine off for renewal yesterday so I'll be able to let you know how long it takes now, hopefully the system is better organised now. There are about 12 staff where I work and at any one time someone is always waiting for their check to come back.

I've had CRB checks and I thought everyone did to work with children. I volunteer help in a local primary school on a regular basis.
What I can't understand with the present system is why I need a different one if I help at a different school ( in the same district and county) and yet another if I help out at a playschool.
Will the new system have a central holding of information that each establishment can refer to?......

Gwyn

You need to get new CRB checks done every time you change jobs because you could have commmited an offence after you had the last check done. It is also the responsability of each employer to check that you have not commited any offence against children.

Jane

"Volunteers in schools have a CRB check"

Not in our primary they dont !

I was a Parent Helper for a couple of years before I started work at the school, only once I started paid work there I was CRB checked.

Parent helpers are not checked in our school. I assume because PHs are never left alone with a child.

Of course, I can be left alone with them now as a PH as Im also staff :o)) so I assume under the new laws I will be already covered as a PH as ive got a current CRB check running with the school

Will have to check with the Head on the matter.

My first reaction was a bit like yours Brian, but then I think we must look after the children.

I had a discussion with my son this morning, and we both decided it was a good thing.
His wife is teacher and has been investigated, and she has no worries about it.

I agree that it takes some thinking about, but in the long run I am for it. My only complaint would be that we would be expected to pay for it ourselves.
There again, The education authorities pay for the teachers, well they did for my DIL anyway.

People will always slip through the net, but if it saves one child the trauma and pain.... I'm for it.

Deanna X

Elaine, apparently even if you have a CRB you will still have to pay for this new check in addition.

Mildred, I was also a helper at the school when mine were at school.
The thing is the danger does not lie in school.
The danger is in the introduction of someone into the situation, where at any time they would become a FRIEND to the child. A child would THEN be vulnerable when perhaps meeting the friend outside of school hours.
Don't you think?
Deanna X

Jane and Phillip are absolutely right. It's like saying that you are not associating with a potential murderer because nobody you know has been convicted of murder.

Very few people who are murdered expect to be murdered by a particular person.

A character reference SHOULD be more use than a piece of paper saying there are no previous officially recorded convictions/concerns. However it can be difficult to get an honest character reference because in today's litageous atmosphere a referee may be worried about a charge of defamation.

So basically it comes down to your own assessment of an individual, not just relying on CRBs or references.

I don't suppose there will ever be a completely fail safe method.

Well basic CRB disclosure is £25 a throw so lots of pennies to be generated....Dont object to them myself, Gord I had to have one just to clean planes at the airport

Volunteer workers will be CRB checked but will be exempt from charges.

I heard, a while back, that they were going to put everybody onto a "safe" list and then, if convicted for anything, they would be removed from the "safe" list which would seem a far more logical way of doing it and save duplication etc. I assume they are doing it this way to make a bit more money!

Jill

Listening to a woman trying to explain this on Radio 4 this morning - she was backtracking and trying to avoid any direct answer!
When asked if a parent who occasionally took a neighbours children to after school activities (ie brownies) would have to be chacked - it appears that if she takes them more than twice a month - than YES!
Looks like, unless every parent is checked, everyone will have to have a car for the school run soon - taking other's children to school will be a no-no, which will lead to yet more carbon footprint, clogging up of traffic, pollution and danger for other children outside the school gates.


Whatever happened to the ability to 'suss' someone out?
Are we all deemed to have lost the ability to judge a person's character?

As has been said, Huntley had been checked - yet as soon as I saw him on TV, he gave me the creeps and I actually said 'it was him' - he was shifty and far too 'available for comment'.

My sister goes on Dof E weekends with children - as the token female!
A new male helper as joined the group of adults that go - CRB checked etc, but my sister didn't trust him - he wanted to be far too 'pally' with the teenagers. Transpires she was right - fortunately nothing much happened - he suggested this girl meet him afterwards - and the girl told another adult. As my sister said - you have to watch the behaviour - and we all have an inkling of 'not quite right' behaviour - bits of paper mean nothing

I am crb checked.Have been for years.When i worked for check in at the airport, and neuro centre and frail and elderly.I have worked with mental health for 4 years so they are vulnerable as well. I was told at a meeting quite a while ago about this change.I will recieve a pin number.Hopefully the right people will get through. Annie