DBS Certificate numbers / OFSTED

[topcat2014]

Hi,
The school of which I am a governor is having an OFSTED inspection tomorrow. It transpires they have no record of my DBS check, and I can't find the damn form anywhere.

Does anyone know whether you can find out what the certificate number is over the phone?

Thanks,

[DellaPorter]

Who carried out the check?

[missmapp]

If you did an online application it may be on the email.

[topcat2014]

The school will have sent the forms off and paid the fee. Apparently the certificate would have been given to me, but I have no memory of it (about five years ago)

[Longdistance]

I did one recently, and they sent me a confirmation email.

You could quite easily search for the email.

[TheSnowFairy]

(from their website):

We can only give you the application form reference if we have received your application form. The 12 digit DBS certificate number can be found on the top right-hand side of your DBS certificate. If you forget your unique subscription ID number call us on 03000 200 190.

God luck. An added stress you don't need!

[TheSnowFairy]

Good luck obviously

[Temporaryanonymity]

The school should keep a record of DBS numbers. I am really surprised that they haven't. If Ofsted don't ask about it then I think you should make sure they have adequate admin processes in place.

[washingmachinefastwash]

You can phone them and they will give you the number.

[DellaPorter]

The governors should be listed on the single central record, with safeguarding info including the dbs number. The scr should be periodically checked and signed off by a governor. As part of the safeguarding section of the audit, ofsted will review the scr. I hope it all goes ok.

[QuirkyGoose]

All governors should be on the single central record with their DBS details. Ofsted will check, you need the number. The school business manager should have known. Ofsted will expect any gaps in the scr to be completed before they leave.

[Dothedodah]

If there are gaps then the school will be given a category 4 judgement as it has failed to meet safeguarding standards.

[Emeraude]

I’m fairly sure you’re supposed to get them every 3 years anyway, going forward. I’ve certainly had two at the school that I have worked at for 4 1/2 years.

[Cantchooseaname]

School apply for your dbs, but the cert should have been sent to you, then you take the paper in to be added to the single central register.
Failure to keep this up to date is a serious safeguarding issue, and can be a reason for putting a school into a category.
We were seriously reprimand as ours was held on a different site to where most of children were- during major building works. There was no indication that it was incomplete, just held in a temporary admin block.
Really hope it's found and sorted- and good luck!!!

[topcat2014]

Thanks all,

[TheDrsDocMartens]

They renew every three years so unless you’re on the update service it’s out of date anyway.

[DellaPorter]

It's not actually obligatory to renew.
But yes, failure to include them correctly on the scr is a safeguarding fail.

[Temporaryanonymity]

It isn't obligatory to renew every three years but it is commonly believed to be the case. Many CSSIW/CQC/Ofsted/Estyn employees believe this too. But the legislation does not require it.

[CarrieBlue]

I worked at a school for 17 years and never had a dbs or crb check. Apparently this was ok, I asked many times.

[DellaPorter]

Carrie, that's true if you were employed before 2002 or 2005, can't remember which

[AllTheWhoresOfMalta]

Hang on- so you can work in a school today and not have ever had a DBS check as long as you were employed before 2002? That can't be true. That's outrageous.

[TheSnowFairy]

From safeguarding in schools site:

'It is a common myth that DBS checks must be redone every so many years – this has never been the case, although there are many policies that state it as fact. Nor is there any requirement to undertake retrospective checks on current staff beyond those that were in place at the time of appointment. As a minimum, staff appointed before March 2002 must have had a List 99 check; and staff appointed since 12th May 2006 must have had a DBS check (September 2003 for independent schools).'