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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to want to know about DBS checks ?

48 replies

fridaynight · 17/04/2016 13:12

Between them my Boys do quite a few extra curricular activities, with the new term starting I've been in touch with various sports coaches and music teachers, after a few texts or an email off we go. Not one of the coaches or music teachers has offered information on whether they have a DBS check , Golf , rugby, cricket, athletics , piano, drums - I'm just assuming everyone's got them, Now we've got an athletics day miles away with coach trip and one to one golf and I'm just feeling uneasy that I really don't know these people or any DBS details .
It's weird because I know most kids clubs go to huge efforts to get DBS's done. Do you think I will get people's backs up if I start asking about their DBS checks ?

OP posts:

pinkpeter1 · 17/04/2016 13:13

They should happily show you their certificates if you ask

LIZS · 17/04/2016 13:16

You can ask whoever is the club organiser/affiliated organisation what their safeguarding policy is and whether it includes dbs checks as standard (and how often these are renewed). It may be that they publish this info on their website. However unless they are in a 1:1 setting it may not be obligatory.

sazza76 · 18/04/2016 00:19

They should be more than happy to tell you if you ask. It shouldn't get anyone's back up. Anyone working with children should have one, they have really cracked down since Ian Huntley. Even school govenors who in general are rarely with the children unless in a classroom/large group setting now have to have DBS checks.
Most organisations now insist their staff have them as it protects them as well as the children that use their services.

herecomethepotatoes · 18/04/2016 06:28

I don't think you'll necessarily get people's backs up, but perhaps it's better to check the policy of the club as LIZS suggested.

Private tutors may not have had a DBS check and it's up to you if it bothers you. Out of interest, would you immediately find a new tutor if they didn't have an up to date DBS?

insancerre · 18/04/2016 06:36

What's an up to date dbs?
They don't have an expiry date

MooseyMouse · 18/04/2016 06:38

You're right to ask but just be aware that a DBS will only show whether someone has been caught for an offence (and, in some cases it will show if they've been investigated). It obviously doesn't show whether they've ever committed an offence.

It's an important check but it's also important to be aware of your kids' signals (happy, nervous etc), teach them about safety, be alert. Look out for grooming behaviour (your child being treated as more special than others, a relationship outside the activity, physical contact beyond what the activity requires, the instructor excluding parents or blocking your questions).

londonrach · 18/04/2016 06:39

Insancerre...they last a year. Tbh if someone does something they shouldnt the day after the check it doesnt show till the next year.

happystory · 18/04/2016 06:41

They don't expire. They last as long as you are in the same job/role.

herecomethepotatoes · 18/04/2016 06:41

insancerre

^What's an up to date dbs?
They don't have an expiry date^

You're correct as they are immediately expired (for want of a better word) when they're issued.

My OH's school (he's the head) require them bi-annually. A company I worked for in the past (although they were CRB then) required them anally.

londonrach · 18/04/2016 06:41

And moosey right it only shows offences caught so limited use. I cant understand why you have to do one for every single organisation, nursing home etc. far better just to have one that covers everywhere. I have a folder worth.

herecomethepotatoes · 18/04/2016 06:42

Well, spot the auto-correct

londonrach · 18/04/2016 06:43

Happystory. They done every year. It doesnt last as long as the job. I work nhs.

wannabestressfree · 18/04/2016 06:43

They Don't last a year or hr in schools would forever be filling in dbs forms..they last as long as you stay in your job.

superram · 18/04/2016 06:43

They don't last a year they do not expire. It would be good practice to get one every 3 years but they are expensive and few clubs could afford to do it this often.

happystory · 18/04/2016 06:49

I'm in education. Your employer can ask for them to be renewed but they don't actually expire.

londonrach · 18/04/2016 06:51

I get one sent automatically every year working for the nhs. As i work in different nursing homes (private) i get one from them every year too. You should see my folder! I have 15 years worth of these forms!!!! It seems the silliest waste of paper.

sixinabed · 18/04/2016 07:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cariadlet · 18/04/2016 07:06

It seems that practices vary widely. I'm a teacher and we only require them for new employees, governors and volunteers - they aren't renewed. We have a lot of staff and it would be really time consuming and expensive to have regular renewals.

As MooseyMouse said they only show if you have a conviction and don't guarantee a child's safety. In reality they are permanently out of date as they won't show any convictions which have occurred since they were issued.

ExConstance · 18/04/2016 07:07

If the employee pays a fee of around £13 a year they can be checked instantly on line at any time so remain bang up to date.

londonrach · 18/04/2016 07:16

One of my colleagues job title changed 4 times within 2 weeks during an reorganisation...yes he had 4 dbs forms done and the 4 lots of blood tests the nhs request per job title!

NorksAreMessy · 18/04/2016 07:20

Mine now follows me, rather than being attached to a school (IYSWIM)
I am peripatetic, so it made sense for me to register myself and pay the £13 a year top up.

In answer to your question, just ask the organiser, and ask for their insurance details as well.

springtimevintagedream · 18/04/2016 07:21

What is irritating is that organisations insist on having their own.

Witchend · 18/04/2016 07:21

All a dbs shows is that you haven't been caught... Yet. Don't put too much faith in them.

But dm is a tutor and has been for years. She does have a dbs. She is astonished that no one (including agencies she's worked for) has ever even asked if sh has one.

insancerre · 18/04/2016 07:21

A dbs has no expiry date and they don't last a year
The applicant can apply for the update service once they have a newly acquired dbs which means they can be checked by people entitled to do so
The update service requires an annual fee but it is separate from the dbs

Buckinbronco · 18/04/2016 07:24

It's up to the employer how regularly they want to check them. More regularly than annually would be pointless though- if I had a clean one today and was caught committing a crime tomorrow by the time I've been to court and convicted it would be another 9 months or similar.

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