To be shocked I won't be DBS checked?

[Newjob12345]

I've just started a new job working in a children's soft play, was fully expecting to be police checked as obviously I'll be around children every day.
They do not do this anymore as there is no need, we'll never be alone with children so it's ok
Also a leisure centre attached where apparently the lifeguards aren't checked either, even though they are in and out of the changing room.

I'm really shocked tbh but not sure what I can do. Is this normal these days?

That's bollocks. Certainly in Scotland those roles would all be checked ime

Not normal in my experience.

I wouldn't say that would be normal either. In a school situation, we DBS check and ask for two referees for all volunteers who come in on a regular basis. That's just to read with the children in a corridor, on the vague off chance that there's no-one else in the corridor. A friend of mine had to be DBS checked when working on a course which called for her to come and observe a child for an hour a week, even though other members of staff would definitely be there.

Very odd - I've just had a DBS check for something less potentially open to abuse than that...

Isn't it the law that everyone working with under 16s has to have a DBS.
I worked for a school and we also weren't checked. I suspect it is a cost-cutting exercise. You should be careful if there is ever any incident, there is a thing called 'vicarious liability' where you could be held accountable or sued and the employer would get off scot free. I would make sure you are covered in some way. Really they should be reported to OFSTED as they are not safeguarding correctly.

It's really shocked me but dh thinks I am being over the top.

Does anyone know what the law on this is? I assumed everyone had to be checked by law, but maybe it is down to the company?

Yep, that's weird alright. I had to be DBS checked to go in to DDs primary school to administer medication to her. I was only in contact with my own DD but as I had to go past the reception area, into the medical room that was in the main part of the school in a regular basis, I had to have the check. Which I was happy to do btw. Are you sure this place isn't just blatantly lying to you to save themselves money?

How would you make sure you are covered though?

Correction: you MUST report them to OFSTED asap as the children are at risk. contact.ofsted.gov.uk/online-complaints

Maybe phone first and explain the situation and they will advise you what will happen next - 0300 123 1231. open 08:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday

It won't be Ofsted regulated I wouldn't think.

Yes that's surprising.

The government should just publish an exhaustive list of job titles and roles that require an enhanced check and be done with it. The rules are so poorly understood that you either get organisations going mad with inappropriate checking or the polar opposite.

Personally, in your situation, I would call OFSTED on Monday for advise and in the meantime make sure I followed the centre's policies very carefully. Say, if a child fell over, fill out the incident report etc and doing everything by the book, so there is a total record. You can also get a DBS yourself. You shouldn't really be in this unfair position by an employer. Have you asked why they don't do DBS checks? very odd.

It depends on the role. I've helped out on school trips and at PTA events and we are not checked - but it's always made very clear that you should never be on your own with a child/children.

A soft play centre is a different scenario as any child in there will have an adult responsible for them in the building - the staff are not employed as "carers" or to be responsible for the kids. They are employed to tidy up, serve food, take payments etc. It's not the same at all as a playgroup or a creche where parents leave the kids.

I can't find anything online as to who needs one. I don't think they are covered by OFSTED.

Anyone working in regulated activity needs one - basically 121 at times /all the time etc with kids or vulnerable adults.

Disclaimer - I'm in Scotland so we are care inspectorate rather than Ofsted but s softplay wouldn't be regulated as it's not an actual childcare provider.

However I think both of the situations you describe would be classed as regulated work and still require a pvg

I assumed everyone had to be checked by law, but maybe it is down to the company?

No - companies can't decide who they do and don't DBS check. There is a list of occupations which fall under DBS legislation, and a list which don't. There is obviously a grey area between the two. You can't just say everyone who has contact with under 16s in a work capacity need to be DBS checked as that would include the staff in the local shop when I send my kids for a pint of milk - obviously ridiculous.

You could argue that a soft play worker who takes groups of kids off into a separate room for face painting, or does party games while the parents are elsehwere should be DBS checked but in 99% of cases it's the parents of hte children who are classed as responsible during the time in the play area.

www.safeguardinginschools.co.uk/ofsted-say-disclosure-barring-dbs-checks/

www.gov.uk/disclosure-barring-service-check/overview

In my role I'll never officially be alone with a child. I still feel that is unsafe as its a big area with children all over the place, no parent has eyes on their child 24/7.

It's not just children either, I could be working with a convicted rapist and not have a clue.

But then I suppose the rapist thing could happen in any job that doesn't involve children couldn't it.

I'm going to look in to it more.

I had to have an enchanced check for a helper role on DD's football team which was different from the check I had when I started carer work. Doesn't sound right but I don't know the legalities.

Does that mean that everyone who arrives with a child in tow should be DBS'd, too? They could come along daily to this soft play place.

How about when the person who has started a job at soft-play is only 16 themselves.

www.ucheck.co.uk/do-you-need-a-dbs-check-when-parents-are-present/

A lifeguard with access to naked/half dressed children not being DBS checked?

I'm surprised at the soft play, but not as shocked as at the lifeguard.

Technically speaking, you don't have to be DBS cleared if the area is supervised and you are not alone. However, what would happen if that supervisor had to leave for an emergency? I volunteer at a sports club and as such, legally I don't need the DBS but the club recognised that anything could happen leaving me the only adult therefore put me through it.