DBS Check

[BigGhatt]

I know the obvious answer to this is just to ask them but is there a way to check if someone running a childrens youth club/sports club has a DBS? Can you check online?

It's a legal requirement so they certainly should have one. Not sure you can check

You wouldn't be able to check without quite a few details such as their DOB etc. They also have to be registered for something called the Update Service.
If it's a club you are thinking of sending your child to, just ask them. Anyone who works with children is more than used to having to provide their DBS.
All the clubs at our school are required put their employees through an enhanced DBS check.

theres a youth club opening in my village which is great. Doesnt mention a dbs check. How would anyone even know if he doesn’t? Its a bit awkward to ask. “Can i see your dbs before little Timmy signs up, just incase youre the local paedo?”

Surely something like this should be publicly available

Just ask if it doesn't say on the website. No need to feel awkward about being asked-if he doesn't like it that's his problem. But I doubt if he would have got any funding without.

Just ask him if you can look at his DBS certificate. It doesn't really matter if the website says he's got one, career criminals can get a cert but theirs would obviously be more interesting to read than the average person's.

I believe an individual can get only a basic DBS cert showing only unspent convictions with nothing that's spent on it.

I've been asked several times. Not remotely bothered.

Ask. I used to tutor and always had mine to hand to show a parent if needs be.

Oddly, no one higher up checked. I was self-employed.

I have a dbs myself as im on a pta. I will ask them to take a look. It just occurred to me that surely they should be public? Theres nothing to hide??

Ask to see their certificate.

I would have no problem showing the Record part of my certificate, as long as they don't mind the personal detail bit covered up (address, date of birth, previous names etc- not my current name!)

Some people do have something to hide, things that don't prevent them doing the jobs they have, but things they wouldn't want their friends and neighbours knowing about. If someone received a conviction for shoplifting or affray as a young person, for example .

Don't ask to see his DBS. That is a really private document that only employers should have access to. He may have been convicted of shoplifting 25 years ago. It has no bearing on his risk to children. His employer will have seen any DBS and have undertaken a risk assessment if there are convictions on it. Also if they are on the barred list they wouldn't be allowed to work with children or adults, or both.

People can have convictions and still be allowed to work with children

This is just a local guy setting up a youth club. Hiring a hall, no rules i guess. No one overseeing him.

Thank you, this is my thoughts

Most people setting up something like that on their own will have a dbs, and would usually be happy to show you.

However it won’t do anything to prove he’s not the “local paedo” There are more of those without convictions than there are with them.

I was going to suggest checking the website of whoever he would be working for (eg. local authority, charity or church etc) to see what their safeguarding policy is but now you've said he's doing it off his own back that's not going to be possible

"Don't ask to see his DBS"

He can show you the top bit of the certificate with his name and the date.

It's illegal for anyone working with young people to not have one so I highly doubt it if your in doubt call the non emergency police line and ask advice.

I would assume that someone working with children would be aware they would need a DBS and I would not be embarrassed about asking if all the staff/helpers are DBS checked. That said I do not believe you have the right to see a DBS as a parent as people don't always want to discuss facts to others such as their age .

They have to comply with Keeping Children Safe in Education which extends to any provision involving children, and should have all their policies regarding children on a publicly available site.

A DBS is a confidential document. The settling, whatever it is, must have seen that and it should be stated in their policy.