Not happy with this ‘job’ situation and DBS etc

[Cocochai]

A charity I volunteer for already is looking for someone to help with their after school club; basically to collect the children from the school hall and safely get them to the mini bus. That’s literally all they need someone to do but will pay for an hour’s work. I said no initially but they were getting desperate so I said ok; my child is in the Juniors and this will be collecting from the Infants.

I have a DBS from Scouts as I volunteer there and the charity manager said they will use that as ‘they are not fussy.’ I’m not happy with this as I didn’t think these were transferable between organisations and that they should order their own for me. However, I text a copy of it over a week ago and as of yesterday she hadn’t even opened it on WhatsApp.

I have now just received a text saying pop by tomorrow morning and I’ll give you the collection name list and you can start tomorrow afternoon. Surely this isn’t right?

I don’t believe my DBS covers me, I have not been told what the pay rate is, not asked for my bank details and NI, address, absolutely nothing. This is dealing with young children and I’m not prepared to enter my child’s school and take charge of other people’s children with such a casual approach.

I’ve seen the mini van at the school when I pick my child up (also no notice for me to have a discussion with my child on where to meet me/contact the office to say I won’t be collecting him and he will meet me at X point instead) and I’ve seen two women and not been told their names etc.

I don’t know - this just all seems wrong to me? I don’t like letting people down but being given less than 24 hours notice to start and not being told basic info like pay rate and bank info just seems wrong. Thoughts?

I like this manager and happy to volunteer in the other capacity but this just reeks of disorganisation etc. I don’t know what to say to her. I am job hunting but I know a lot of the volunteers so lying that I have got a job will get found out.

It doesn't sound great organisation, I agree. What I would say is that a DBS doesn't cover you for anything. It just tells the organisation of anything appearing on your record to that date.

Whether organisations accept previous DBS or do them anew depends on their own risk assessment and policies.

The DBS is for the organisation to be covered so you don't actually need to worry as it won't be you that gets into trouble. Maybe she is going to ask for bank details/ explain everything tomorrow when you get the list??

I wouldn't be happy either!

From my experience of working with children they should be asking for an updated Dbs.

I'd be concerned about everything you have mentioned plus insurance also? Are you first aid trained? Will you have emergency contact/medical info for children? Any allergies? I know it's only a short trip but anything can happen!

With regards meeting your child, can't you explain to them today or in the morning?

Also, you seem to be literally collecting from the school hall and walking to the minibus. This is presumably all within the vicinity of the school and would take 10 - 20 mins max?

Well, I did the first week of collecting the children and getting to the minivan. All went fine although I found the other two woman very unfriendly and unwilling to share basic info such as how many children are we collecting and putting names to faces (surely basic info we should all have, particularly if a child runs off, what name am I supposed to call as I chase etc? Two children are known to do this).

Anyway, last Sunday I get a text from the charity manager to say we don’t need you this week due to the strikes plus smaller number of children needing collecting on the other days. These are Infant & Junior schools and Infants stayed open, which is where most of the children come from to the club. At no point has she told me that I’d only be needed occasionally and this surely means it’s a zero hours contract scenario?

Now, another issue I have is that I am still chasing for forms to fill in for payroll/NI/tax purposes. I asked for it to be emailed to me and the manager says she’ll send a form with the other women as her accountant likes paper copy, except these women never had the form that week. So I’ve done a week’s work, still not on payroll, and she’s turned around and said after a week that we don’t need you in the second week.

I didn’t bother replying to the text she sent last Sunday night as I was annoyed for various reasons stated above, and tbh I’m not interested in helping anymore. I don’t think they really need a third person too, which maybe she has realised and this is her way of getting rid of me. This manager has no info about me whatsoever except what is stated on the DBS - no references required, bank details for payroll, NI, tax etc and it then messing me around within a week saying I’m not needed.

This is just a disorganised mess isn’t it and I’m right to walk away?

God, walk away and don't look back
I wouldn't want to be associated with any of it

It sounds to me that as you are already a volunteer, they are assuming this is a voluntary ad-hoc role too.

@LadyHaHaHeeHaw thanks, I’m not over reacting then

A red flag for me was a teacher handing one of the other women a clear bag with an asthma inhaler and spacer in it and saying ‘this belongs to X, I assume you are aware.’ None of us were aware of this child’s condition - surely serious medical conditions need to be shared with all staff who deal with the children?? So I also wonder has anyone had paediatric first aid training.

DH thinks that maybe as I have volunteered in other capacities within her charity that she thought I would do this for free, and has realised that’s not my intention she wants to find someone who will.

DH says there is no way our DC will attend this amateur, disorganised club.

@Hottoffeesauce she told me the hourly rate and said she’d get one of the other women to give me the payroll form. Who is going to collect 12-15 children from a school and ensure they get safely to a minivan, and belted in, for nothing? No one is queuing up to volunteer for this.

I'd say the charity needed reporting to Ofsted as a safeguarding risk!

You're wise to walk away and not over-reacting. It's impossible for you to safeguard children effectively in the circumstances you describe.

I agree about Ofsted. Easy for me to say when it's not my life though.

They are not Ofsted registered.

They have operated for quite a few years out of a different school and have now opened this new branch.

Glad I’m not over-reacting at not being happy with all this.

All wraparound childcare providers should be registered with Ofsted I thought....

Here's the rules - they may be exempt?

www.gov.uk/guidance/childminders-and-childcare-providers-register-with-ofsted/registration-exemptions