To think that CRB checking requirements have gone too far

[ReallyTired]

It seems that if you want to do any kind of volentary work you need a CRB check. Ie. If I listen to kids read at my son's school, help out with the children's centre, take a sunday school session all these organisations need a seperate CRB check. At £60 a time for a CRB check it is a big drain on charity/ schools/ church resources. Its a money spinner for SERCO.

I appreciate the need for CRB checks, but it seems silly that I am filling in two seperate CRB check forms for the church and the children's centre in the same week. Surely one CRB check in a period of a month should be enough.

I would like the system of CRB checks to be streamlined. Ie. If the children's centre paid for me to have a CRB check then it should be possible to give a reference to the church. The church could check that the CRB had been done and not pay full cost.

YANBU

I don't understand why one certificate doesn't cover all?

YANBU. It definitly needs streamlining.

I agree with you - I am CRB checked through my sports governing body and would not be registered with them if I was not. Then schools, councils, organisations etc ask me to coach/officate for them based on my being a member of this governing body but still want a separate CRB check. Now, I
cannot be registered with my governing body unless I am CRB checked through them so why do I have to have a separate check .

YANBU - the world has gone mad!! It used to be one certificate covered all, god knows why they had to go and change it!

YABU. Under previous systems, children and vulnerable adults have still been abused because checks weren't stringent enough. This system isn't perfect either by a long shot but it's the best so far!

Agree that the separate CRBs for different organisations is daft - I currently hold 4.
I thought they were free for charities tho...

I'm sure if you're volunteering they're free of charge, might be worth checking that out.

PurplePidjin, how does me having two CRB checks in one week help child safety? Its nothing more than duplication.

CRB checks cost charities up to £60 when you include all the admin costs. I also think there has to be a balance between safety of chldren and charities actually funding their work.

It is changing in scotland anyway One full disclosure check fits all , I was told yesterday , MY sister works in care and had to have a different disclosure for every job she changed jobs within 2 years and then back again , the disclosure lasts 3 years she needed new disclosures , if you are volunteering the organisation should cover costs ,

I think it may have more to do with each institution having its own paper trail - so not relying on another organisations administrative processes. It would be good to have a portable CRB form - not sure why this has not been done.

Like I said, it's not perfect. Just that it beats the alternative!

Some are transferable as long as they're under a year old. At least, I'm a temp and am running off the latest (also have several) The rules aren't always clear so organisation's may not know iyswim.

Most recent was £44 done online for a large education temp agency. Arrived in about a week. The price is the same as my first in 1998 but that took several months. Even 3 years ago, months was more usual than weeks.

but isnt the disclosure (thats what its called up here ) held in a central place seems really daft but at least its in place ,

Or maybe a common database? Is it the same company that carried out the checks?

"YABU. Under previous systems, children and vulnerable adults have still been abused because checks weren't stringent enough. This system isn't perfect either by a long shot but it's the best so far!"

How many cases of child abuse has this prevented then? The answer is, however sadly, none.

Fewer CRB checks are needed now than schools etc make out. The problem now is that everyone feels they should have one done "just to be on the safe [and paranoid] side."

[[http://www.employers-guide.org/take-action/agreeing-what-to-do/crb-checks.aspx The Government announced a reduction in Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks as part of its Freedoms Bill in 2011. These changes will make it easier to volunteer in schools.
Teachers and youth workers will continue to be vetted but volunteers who do occasional, supervised work with children will not. For example, an Inspiring the Future 'career insight talk' in a school would not require a CRB check.]]

I don't understand why one certificate doesn't cover all?

It is the duty of the organisation to check that a correct upto date CRB is held. The person in charge should be checking the documentation used for ID.

How many cases of child abuse has this prevented then? The answer is, however sadly, none.

I think that most people would be surprised how many abusers (of different sorts) try to have contact with children and families. CRB's prevent this.

There is a misconception that only offences show up, but there is the section for 'other information' this would show up if the person has been deemed a risk to children, which is different from being charged with an offence.

I dont want them abolished but there has to be another way organisations can to the checks especially if you are volunteering , of course you would need to show your id and should give references , I know why they do it just seems such a waste getting seperate ones , I couldnt go into my dds guides for an hr because i would need a seperate crb , wher ei volunteer my disclosure is up soon and thats when i was told it was changing or changed ,

MrsJay, I'd double check that if I were you. I'm a youth worker for one county and have done temp assignments for eg the nhs in the same county using the same CRB. I had to do a new one because I live on the border between two counties and my CRB for the other county is nearly three years old/not transferable across the border. But I can do temp work now in any school in either county iyswim. I would be extremely surprised if the voluntary sector was different - but not surprised at all if the organizers didn't understand the massively complicated system!

I will check it out when the time comes purple and my co ordinators are really good with their checks and disclosures ,

"How many cases of child abuse has this prevented then? The answer is, however sadly, none.

I think that most people would be surprised how many abusers (of different sorts) try to have contact with children and families. CRB's prevent this.

There is a misconception that only offences show up, but there is the section for 'other information' this would show up if the person has been deemed a risk to children, which is different from being charged with an offence."

I have had plenty of Enhanced CRBs done in my career. What people seem to forget is that this only works if you have been convicted or if problems have been highlighted. There are plenty of abusers who don't have any concerns on their record, yet people treat CRBs as a magic cure preventing anyone bad doing anything. You are really being very naive.

there was meant to be vetting and barring but it got lost along the way

I don't think that CRB's are a magic cure but they do stop identified abusers having access to children. There are enough non identified, we don't need to add to the number.

We have people try to volunteer in groups that i am involved with that are a known risk. It is naive to think that this doesn't need something in place to stop them gaining access.

there was meant to be vetting and barring but it got lost along the way

I think that the Protection Of Vulnerable..Children and Adults(vetting and barring) should have continued.

When I first started working with children 20 years ago, we had a SCRO check done every 2 years. But it would be better to make them cheaper or free to voluntary organisations.

I think its reasonable for organisations to ask for a passport and prehaps their own references.

I don't see how multiple CRB checks in a short period of time would stop a paedophile. The only solution I can see is to have better child protection training.