AIBU to think anyone involved in teaching children should be BDS checked?

[requestingsunshine]

This is a childs sports club. Not volunteers but a paid for club and not linked to school or anything.

Am I right in thinking that anyone involved in the coaching of the DC, especially when they are left in sole charge of the DC should be DBS checked?

What type of dance?

Age is an issue - DS1 had to have one to help at a martial arts class when either 17 or 18, but didn’t as a younger teen - 13-15 volunteering at Cubs. I’m presuming it’s 16 ? Or maybe 18?

The reason I ask the type of dance is that most types of dancing have teachers registered with a governing body. You could contact the governing body. It's possible that to qualify to register, they would have had the appropriate screening.

All are definitely over 16. And they are not volunteers as they get paid, but they do not have an employment contract and payment is cash in hand

It absolutely is the law and makes no difference whether they are paid staff or volunteers anyone working with children should have an enhanced DBS. The only difference for volunteers is they don't have to pay for the DBS. Do they have a Safeguarding Officer or policy in place?

Thank you, I'll look into this. I don't know if they are registered with any governing body, but I'm sure that should be clear on their website if so

Yes they do need to be dbs checked, but I don't believe there's a way for you to check without asking for their application number.

The cash in hand seems a bit dodgy.

I'd check whether they're actually listed as an official company or whether they're dodging tax too. Just to be sure:

www.gov.uk/get-information-about-a-company

Do they have a Safeguarding Officer or policy in place?

No, not as far as is known. Its a company run by one man, who then pays cash in hand to the 'coaches' for certain classes

You can get DBS for anyone age 16+. in a sports/club environment it is usually that only certain qualified coaches (whose coaching would have included safeguarding training) can be left in sole charge of under 18's. My son is 16 and a football coach with dbs but can't lead a session without either a more senior coach present or all children to remain under parental supervision.

At all comps my kids have competed at the dance teacher had to have a dbs check to be able to go into the changing rooms and all other chaperones did too

Absolutely. I’m a teacher with a clean enhanced disclosure DBS certificate and when I’ve been for interviews, no school has ever let me go past reception without an escort, simply because they want to do their own up-to-date DBS checks. That’s how thorough they are. Nobody without a DBS should be working closely with children if they will be left alone at any point, even for a few seconds. It sounds OTT to many, but we owe it to children to be safe as we can be.

They are not found using this link. They do not have a company website, only a facebook page. There is no 'Ltd' or anything after their name, so maybe working as a sole trader.

The facebook page is public, obviously, and has lots of pictures of the dc on it, but I assume parents are ok with that. However I have found a picture on there with me in, which I was definitely not asked if ok to go on the facebook page. Not that i'm bothered, but makes me wonder if anyone else was asked if ok to show pictures of their dc.

I just think there is something a bit dodgy and not above board going on with this company

Also no mention of a governing body on their facebook page anywhere.

They definitely should be DBS checked. I work in a school but only at the weekends. There are children's sports clubs in at that time but I rarely interact with the children there let alone spend time with them unsupervised and I still needed an enhanced DBS check due just to working in a school.

I would assume everybody working in any capacity with children would have an enhanced DBS and would not be happy if they didn't and were in sole charge of my child. It is not a guarantee but it could weed out somebody who is a danger.

Whether they can use your image depends on where it was taken and in what context it is used. If you have Safeguarding concerns speak to LADO at the council or the Child Performance licensing officer if they are putting on shows for the general public. The lack of contract, cash in hand etc is irrelevant.

I have to have an enhanced DBS to help at my son's Cubs group (we do a rota of parents so usually do once every half term) despite the fact that there's always 1 or 2 leaders there as well.
In fact, in spite of this, I can't help at their school because the school haven't done their own DBS.

Stop making up nonsense. Plenty of people on this thread who know exactly what they're talking about.

They should have DBS checks. I have one for my job anyway but when I was a school governor I needed one and also when I was a parent reading helper.

Have a look at the following, along with the eligibility tool on that site.

www.gov.uk/government/collections/dbs-eligibility-guidance

The type of activity (classification as regulated activity or not), how often it is done (and if any overnight access, ever), for what age/ vulnerability range of user, where, and the level of supervision, all have a bearing on doing a check and on what level of check is appropriate.

I was sexually abused at an extracurricular club as a small child (pre DBS checks) by a man who seemed very nice. In fact he was everyone's favourite coach, parents and children. I would never, ever send my child to a club where every adult wasn't DBS checked. Not that it would have made much of a difference in my case as I'm pretty sure he doesn't have any criminal convictions... he still works with children now 😶

www.gov.uk/find-out-dbs-check/y

If you go through this guidance it tells you what an employer should be applying for. (Fill it in as if you were the employer)

From what I've ascertained through your posts, and filled in, they all need enhanced DBS checks.

Yes they must be by law. However, as a person who has run children's extra curricular activities for 20 years and done loads of babysitting too. I have almost never been asked to show my DBS, except when I go into schools.

If it's a competitive type of dancing such as ballet or Irish dancing etc., you have to take exams to qualify as a teacher, then further exams to qualify as an adjudicator for example. Those dance types have governing bodies (might not be the correct term) with which to register.

Less competitive dancing forms might not have similar.

My dd did hip-hop and Irish dancing but it never occurred to me to check whether they were DBS vetted.

I dont get it.

How do you know they are not DBS checked?

If they are not, why continue taking your child there?

My DD goes to a dance school that takes part in national competitions. Ex students are now teaching staff. They are all DBS checked. I think I'd pull my kid out of the class if I found out they didn't have DBS checks!

The cash in hand bit wouldn't necessarily worry me - the onus will be on them to declare the income. It may be that they don't have a registered company bank account.