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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

crb checks taking so flipping long

30 replies

kathyb1 · 07/12/2010 11:24

is it just me or do crb checks take a bloody long to time to go through?

i took on two jobs on 15th oct & im STILL waiting for the CRB check to go through.

i had to fill it in and took it into the department the day after the interview, who left it sat on their desk for a ridiculous time, until i rang to ask about a start day.
they then posted it off to some council numpties, who don't actually seem to have any useful role in the process.
they lost it, so i had to fill another form in!
i only found this out when i rang them to find out what was taking so long.
i then had to start all over again.
now it has been logged as arrived at the department in liverpool who actually do something apparently.
only thing is, it has been there for 2 weeks logged as arrived, but NOTHING has been done on it.
i phoned them & they say it will still take at least a month!

the only reason i can't start work is because of this dealyed form.

i'm now completely BROKE and the children i'm supposed to be helping with their learning have still not got the help they need.

i belive in checking for good character, but why is this system so completely inefficent?

ARRRGGGHHHHH!!!!!!

OP posts:

sterrryerryoh · 07/12/2010 11:44

Looks like the problem has been at your new place of work actually sending the CRB form off, rather than the criminal records office delays. CRB checks can take a long time depending on the backlog of applications, and bear in mind that in most police forces, CRB checks are completed by staff who have other work too. 6 weeks is about right, I would say (although yes the system really does need a massive overhaul, and these things need to be sped up) but that doesn?t help in your present situation.
Is it worth phoning up your new place of work and asking if there are any responsibilities you can take on that don?t contravene pending CRB checks, whilst you are waiting.
When I (many years ago) worked in security, it took 2 months for my CRB check to come back, but I was able to at least start work on (mainly boring) adminny stuff that was nothing to do with my actual job, that didn?t involve having access to anything data or MOD protected, until my check came through.

Original poster

kathyb1 · 07/12/2010 11:45

sorry about the typos - i was too angry to pay attention properly

OP posts:

PinkElephantsOnParade · 07/12/2010 11:51

My friend who is a nurse says it usually takes about 8 weeks for her CRBs to come through. And that is with the employer sending it off promptly.

She has been lucky in that she has been able to hang on in her previous job while waiting.

It's ridiculous that people are prevented from working by these delays.

Original poster

kathyb1 · 07/12/2010 11:56

i asked the school about whether i could be put on the books & they just said they never take on staff without the checks done - which i can understand, but i am getting in money problems now.

i am starting to wish i had never taken this job.

OP posts:

PinkElephantsOnParade · 07/12/2010 11:57

kathy - that is pretty unreasonable of them as most of the delays are down to them.

nymphadora · 07/12/2010 12:10

Schoolsn are tighter on this now as the new OFSTEd regime would check up on this.

I'm quite glad to hear of delays though as I'm being interviewed for a job next week but don't want to start before April. 6-8 weeks + Xmas + 1 months notice will take me quite far!

sims2fan · 07/12/2010 12:12

Kathy, I feel your pain! A couple of years ago I put in a CRB form in October and it didn't come back until February half term! From January I rang every single day in the hope that I would annoy someone enough to sort it out for me! It took so long apparently because it was with the police for ages. Not because I have any criminal record, just, I think, because they didn't bother doing their bit and passing it on again! I was given the address to write to to complain but then it turned up and I didn't get round to it. I wish I had really as it was so annoying!

sterrryerryoh · 07/12/2010 12:14

Got a friend who works in the CRO - she has told me that they spend half their time answering calls to people asking where the checks are - she said if people didn?t phone them so much to ask, they?d have more time to get on with the checks themselves!

Original poster

kathyb1 · 07/12/2010 12:15

sims: AARRRRGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

weep weep weep.......

OP posts:

juneybean · 07/12/2010 12:15

I wish, mine came back in 4 days!

camdancer · 07/12/2010 12:26

Apparently if you do it online it is much, much quicker. We had one come through in 24 hours. But paper ones can take ages. I think our record was over 4 months.

Original poster

kathyb1 · 07/12/2010 12:27

hooray hooray

just went on the online tracking service & it's up to stage 4!!!!!

only the police checking and completion to go!!!!

so so happy!

i can't wait to get back to working with little uns - really love it!

hoping to start after hols now.

OP posts:

Original poster

kathyb1 · 07/12/2010 12:28

camdancer:
how do you do it online as the employer has to see loads of paperwork such as passport, marriage cert, bills etc etc?

OP posts:

magicOC · 07/12/2010 21:04

17wks I waited.

Woman on the end of the phone told my employer the delay was probably caused by some criminal record showing up that I hadn't disclosed when filling in the forms

I was bloody furious as I have never even had as much as a parking fine. Of course I complained, couldn't possibly let that go, and of course the form came back clean as a whistle

ImNotBossyBoots · 07/12/2010 21:15

we now do ours online. The person doing the check see's the documents and fills in their bit. The person being checked provides an email address and security question and are emailed a link and a password and they then re-verify the documents online. Its great, all of ours come back now in less than 10 days.

tethersjinglebellend · 07/12/2010 21:16

Enhanced CRB checks, which you need in order to work with children and vulnerable adults are taking forever.

My work recruited a maternity cover teacher nine weeks ago; the paperwork was sent off straight away. The CRB has still not come back. Meanwhile, the baby has been born and, if she so wished, the original teacher could return to post. Teachers (and anyone in a school) are not allowed to be employed without one. Don't assume that the school have messed up.

tethersjinglebellend · 07/12/2010 21:17

Are they enhanced CRBs, Imnot?

Chocolocolate · 07/12/2010 21:26

My shortest one was 5 weeks, my longest was 3 months.

In the past I have been able to work on an expired check while waiting for a new one so long as I was not left alone with a vulnerable person. I don't think (although don't know this for certain) that it's a legal requirement to have one so long as you are not left alone - could this be an option for you OP?

twirlymum · 07/12/2010 21:26

They do take forever. The stupid thing is that I have three now- one for DC's school, one for a youth group I run and one for my chaperone's license.
Surely it would save time and money to have it done for the person and not the group/school

Chocolocolate · 07/12/2010 21:42

I definitely agree with you twirlymum - I once had 6 valid at once!

SuePurblybiltByElves · 07/12/2010 21:48

My last enhanced one came through (as in on my doormat) in a week and a half. But I have lots and lots so maybe that speeds things up?

WentBlank · 07/12/2010 21:48

Just had my enhanced CRB back ....took 13 weeks. Luckily I am in post and renewing and not waiting for a new job to start.

schoolsecretary · 07/12/2010 22:04

Another thing that slows it down is if you have moved around a lot it has to go to each police force, and heaven help you if you are from another country within the UK but not england then it takes even longer.

ChippingIn · 08/12/2010 05:43

I did my Enhanced on line (as per BossyBoots) - it has taken 5-6 weeks so far!

TwirleyMum - I was told mine would be good for a couple of things so long as it was recent?!

I wonder why there is such a difference in the time it takes? It's all very odd (and frustrating!!).

ChippingIn · 10/12/2010 18:17

Finally arrived!! So it was actually 7 weeks!! (I looked up when I'd applied this morning, it was earlier than I thought on Wed). It was done on line as well....

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