Do you ask people for proof of their qualifications?

[ObviouslyIchangedmyname]

Obviously I’ve name changed for this - MNHQ can confirm I’m a regular poster.

I was at the hospital this morning and saw a doctor, in a jokey conversation with a friend, he asked how I knew the guy was a doctor. And he’s right, I obviously just take their word and assume the system is robust enough.

However, there was a case recently where a woman was found to have practised for 20 year when she wasn’t actually a doctor. In a similar vein, I used to be a teacher and my school never confirmed that I had QTS (my QTS number hadn’t been issued by the time I joined and they never followed up) and also never asked for my DBS check. I now work in a different, regulated profession and I absolutely can’t imagine I would be able to fool anyone into thinking I was qualified if I’m not. Having said that, I did two weeks at another firm (supposedly one of the best, most prestigious firms) and they decided it was easier to forward meeting links and documents to my personal email address (including sensitive client info). I now know some information that I absolutely shouldn’t know. Equally, MIL is a “therapist” (accredited by the University of Woo run by her mate). Her website claims that she’s “licensed” (by whom?), “qualified” (by whom?) and “accredited (by whom?). DH once tried to report that she’s not DBS checked (she’s specifically trying to work with children and believes she can cure cancer with her mind) and was told that he can’t make a direct report, it’s her employer’s responsibility to ensure she’s DBS checked - she’s self-employed!

So, in reality, people could say they’re a doctor or a qualified teacher or a licensed whatever but does anyone ever check? I’ve never known anyone check their doctor/dentist/solicitor/financial advisor/etc. Is this something people do?

I would not ask a doctor for proof of their qualifications, no. Because I trust the HR departments of whatever NHS body employs them to do the basic due diligence of checking their GMC registration. Ditto teachers and the local council.

It's really not that easy to get a job in a regulated profession without the academic qualifications.

There are other jobs without that regulation - anyone can call themselves a counsellor, or a marketing expert, or a mechanic, or an administrator.

As an employer (LA) yes I check. When I took my job I had to prove I had O level maths and English even though I’ve got a masters and professional qualifications. I had to show all my certificates and CPD for each institute for two years.

It is the employer’s job, not a random.

I used to.be a nurse ,I had to ti.provide proof of my PINand I had to provide proof every time the yearly renewal fee was due ,figures some people fan and do slip through the best ,but if this women was " peacticing" as a Dr for 20 years surely she must have been competent ( even if she didn't have the relevant qualifications) as surely it would have been brought to.the attention of others if she was incompetent ?

Oh and on the DBS thing - self-employed people can only ever get a basic level DBS on themselves which is current and unspent criminal records. Therapists who are members of a professional body might be able to get a more detailed DBS through their body.

Spotting charlatans is easy with a bit of googling. A diploma in crystal healing from the University of the Third Age in Pasadena is obviously not as kosher as a PG Dip in Counselling from a UK university which you have heard of.

I always found it slightly odd when I ran a volunteer lead out of school care and playscheme how few parents asked for our registration number or any details.

we had a folder with a bit about each volunteer - qualifications and experience.

Despite the fact everyone knew we were all volunteers and effectively parents running it (although most of us worked in education or childcare, but people didn’t know that) I can only recall two parents ever asking questions.

after we had our first inspection and had that up on display I got it, but I was surprised when we first started out.

That’s for the employer to do. I’m surprised your credentials weren’t checked properly and that is something your employer absolutely should have done.

In every teaching job I’ve had, I’ve had to provide all of my exam certificates back to my GCSEs as well as my DfE number. We also have to have regular DBS checks. Same for any employed public sector worker.

As for people calling themselves ‘therapists’ -that is an age old problem. Anyone can set themselves up as a self-employed snake oil therapist-that’s up to the customer to use their common sense, do a bit of research and not be conned.

I absolutely agree with your second paragraph if you check. But, my question is, do people really check? For example, anyone can legally call themselves a lawyer and advertise themselves as a lawyer, they might even have a law degree. But it doesn’t mean that they’re actually qualified to practice law. I think that most people, if told that someone is a “expert employment lawyer” and has a degree in law from Cambridge, would assume that person is qualified to give legal advice, advocate for them in court, file papers etc - but that’s not the case.

Well "lawyer" is a protected title and you can't say you're a lawyer if you're not. Same as calling yourself a doctor or police officer.

And surely this is where personal recommendation comes in? Just as you'd ask friends if they knew of a good painter and decorator, mechanic, dressmaker, you'd ask around for recommendations of a lawyer or a therapist/counsellor.

Lawyer is not a protected title.

There is no such job as lawyer so how could it be protected?

Counsellor and therapist are not protected either but should be!

Stand corrected on the lawyer thing. The rest of it though - you ask for personal recommendation. In Scotland at least you can go to the Law Society website enter your postcode and the area of law you are interested in, and the site will return a list of firms and individuals working in that area. It's not hard.

I worked for the NHS...you have to supply proof to the HR before you start work. It takes weeks to get it all sorted as you have also got to supply some medical details too....

I never said it was hard. I asked if people actually bother to do it and the answer has been resoundingly that, no, people do not check whether the professionals they’re using are actually qualified or registered.

No, people aren’t going to stop and ask their public sector teacher and doctor for their qualifications.

Employers should be doing that and they are the ones at fault if they don’t check.

It's easy to check medical qualifications online - the GMC, NMC etc. Financial too - CISI register. There are companies that will check other licences and overseas qualifications for you.

I check but I like to know who I'm dealing with.

You are not being unreasonable.
People can take what is presented to them at face value and not check.
CV's can have all manner of nonsense on them.
And people may assume someone else has done a check in a recruitment process.

DS was surprised when his grad scheme employer never bothered to check his degree.

I wouldn’t check for something I was accessing through the nhs, or other public body, would presume the employing authority would do that.
would only check in other cases if someone was really bad, for e.g. a plumber, or whoever I was paying a service for.
Would imagine regulating bodies check if people are misusing official logos etc. claiming membership when it’s not true ( I know they do in the building trade) not sure about others.

I’ve never known anyone check their doctor/dentist/solicitor/financial advisor/etc. Is this something people do?

Yes, of course I do.

There was a documentary on Irish TV channel RTE last night about the lack of regulation of the title 'psychologist'. It showed how desperate parents have been duped by so-called psychologists when getting private autism assessments. It was very upsetting, and worst of all there weren't doing anything illegal as the term isn't protected, so absolutely no protection for families 🤯 One notorious practitioner even worked for the HSE (NHS) and appeared as an expert witness in court cases (for the state!).

If you want the best service, seek the best skillset.

What I WANT to know (and always check ) is the extent of that person's study and research, fields of special interest, publications, professional awards. Where they have worked; their career path and professional reputation.

I want a lawyer , or a doctor, or a tradesman, who specialises or has lots of experience and is very interested in the field that matches my personal circumstances and requirements.

Many health and social care professions are "protected" titles meaning to falsely claim to be one of these professions is a criminal offense. Many health and social care professionals are now identifiable through labelling on their lanyards or wearing of specific uniforms (green trousers for OT, blue for Physio type thing). I tend to take it as a given if they work for the NHS or LA they'll have been rigourously checked and vetted

Every school I've ever worked at has asked for certificates on interview day, including QTS proof, you also have to put your teacher registration number on the application form. Also every school has insisted on a dbs check. The school you worked sounds like the exception to me. Also every visitor to our school has to wear a different coloured lanyard depending on if they have been dbs checked and can be unsupervised with students e.g a trainee teacher or if they aren't e.g a parent and must be accompanied by a member of staff when in student areas.

As an employer in childcare yes, we check.

Nobody starts work without a PVG. Qualification certificates are supplied, and everyone has to register with the SSSC where your registration status depends on you evidencing your qualifications to them