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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be annoyed about CRB checking?

72 replies

vivie · 20/04/2010 21:39

I've been asked to fill out a CRB check form so I can help with ds's Beavers group. I'm really happy to do my bit and help, but I've got better things to do than be filling out this immense form, especially as I won't have any of the beavers under my supervision alone (leaders would always be present, do any first aid, etc) and I'll only every be helping in the village hall, occasionally and never at camp etc. I have a CRB check already for helping at my kids' school. I have nothing to disclose and nothing to hide. Of course we need to help our children be safe but I think all this safeguarding is intrusive and unnecessary and puts volunteers off and it would be easier to chuck it in the bin and watch the telly instead. I'm sure this is what many do.

OP posts:
JustGetOnWithIt · 20/04/2010 21:41

I completely agree - I find it truly insulting and counterproductive - it destroys our trust in one another.

Ladyanonymous · 20/04/2010 21:41

Immense Form ?!

Hardly....

LittleMrsHappy · 20/04/2010 21:42

YABU, although I hate doing CRBS, as it does not really reflect the person, only that they have not been caught.

Pointless, but at the same time not

TheFantasticFixit · 20/04/2010 21:43

Firstly it ain't no 'immense' form.. I've just filled it out and half of it you no longer need to complete! Secondly, you can use your current CRB certificate if it has been issued within 12 months.

Take a chill pill. It's annoying, granted, but it is there to keep your children safe.

BigWeeHag · 20/04/2010 21:44

Ladyanonymus - the one I have been given to fill in for Playgroup requires a GP's sig, it is 8 pages long, and also includes questions about my present and past health.

Immenense, intrusive, and wholly unnecessary - I already have one for the Primary School and have never not had a police check due to the nature of my work.

I think it's time for some joined up thinking, surely it is not beyond the realms of possiblity for a central check to be attached to one's NI number or similar?

outnumbered2to1 · 20/04/2010 21:45

in scotland we have Disclosure forms that we need to fill in if we want to work with children. I have
one for volunteering in my DS1's school,
one for volunteering in my DS2's nursery
one for volunteering at the church's children's liturgy group

all the forms are processed by the same dept in the local authority. I cannot work out why they can't make it all one main database with everyone's details on it that can then be checked instead of filling out the same form again and again

Ladyanonymous · 20/04/2010 21:46

They are only worth the paper they are written on the day they are done and the system should be better, it should be a live document and it should be like a passport as in you can take it with you from role to role rather than having to have one done every position you apply for. I think that is what pisses people off.

However. It is a requirement to work with young people now and if you haven't got the commitment and time required to fill out a poxy form that is required by law then maybe the organisation is better off without you anyway.

Ladyanonymous · 20/04/2010 21:47

I have an enhanced CRB for my role and have never had to give my GP's details or fill out 8 pages....????

Original poster
vivie · 20/04/2010 21:48

But it's not going to keep my children safe. It just means I don't have criminal record. Hardly the same thing. I present no risk to any beavers. Any sane adult would do their own 'risk assessment' of me helping one hour occasionally and conclude the same. But CRB checking means that sane adults have to turn down offers of help because of this insanity.

OP posts:
BigWeeHag · 20/04/2010 21:49

I never have before either, LA, which is why I am about it. Apparently it is because the playgroup falls under the SS umbrella rather than the education and library board.

Original poster
vivie · 20/04/2010 21:51

Ladyannoymous - plenty of organisations cannot afford to turn down offers of help and they are not better off without volunteers. PLenty of organisations would fold without volunteers and I don't see how this helps keep kids safe.

And there's the cost of getting people CRB checked

OP posts:
NoahAndTheWhale · 20/04/2010 21:51

I agree that their worth is not much. But I have two enhanced CRB checks and only had to fill in 3 or 4 pages I think.

BigWeeHag · 20/04/2010 21:53

Right, I've just dug it out to count the pages (I know, sad.0

Anyway, there is the Disclosure itself - 9 pages. The Declaration of health - 4 pages. And the "disqualification for caring for children regulations (NI) 1996" form - 3 pages.

FFS.

Ladyanonymous · 20/04/2010 21:53

I didn't say they were better off without volunteers?

I said they are better off without volunteers who can't be arsed to fill out a form which is a requirement by law...and if you have nothing to hide whats the problem?

Most charitable organisations can get a grant to have a certain number of CRBs each year.

BWH, that is a bit is it just once every three years still?

BigWeeHag · 20/04/2010 21:56

I don't know, when I was teaching I only did one in 5 years! But I am only Chair of the playgroup for another 2 academic years after this, hopefully it will just be the once.

Original poster
vivie · 20/04/2010 22:00

I have to provide bank account details, marital status, number of children I have, mother's maiden name... This is relevant because???

OP posts:
kitkatsforbreakfast · 20/04/2010 22:01

theFantasticFixit - I don't think it's entirely true that one CRB covers all places. If you are employed under a different description then it doesn't, and if it is issued by a different area then it doesn't. And many schools will insist on another one being done because they require verification by the LA, and many LAs are unwilling to provide verification on enhanced disclosures.

I have 4 current CRBs for various things, all issued within the last year or two, all will need renewing when they are 3 years old, and all cost £36 a time for the institution.

The system needs to be changed because I don't think they are fit for purpose, but until then, they are all we have to safeguard our children.

wahwah · 20/04/2010 22:02

I have an enhanced CRB
and it took me 15 minutes to complete the form. Now
the stupidness I got because I used 'Ms' is still annoying to me, but the form itself is not a big
deal.

Ladyanonymous · 20/04/2010 22:03

To prove you are who you say you are...?

Ivykaty44 · 20/04/2010 22:05

I never had a crb check to work in a hotel...I had access to peoples bedrooms and sometimes they would leave their childrena dn go down staris for dinner - it never dawned on me that i should have a crb check until I went to work in public service where it is normal to have a check as I would be working with apparently vulnarable people - in an office where everyone goes home at night no lone children either...

marytontie · 20/04/2010 22:05

YANBU

EveWasFramed · 20/04/2010 22:21

It is the one thing that drives me wild living and working in England. In the US, because we have social security numbers, it's a matter of giving whomever needs it a number, and it's done without any kind of form or anything. Also, you generally don't get CRB'd in the US if you are a parent helper at your child's school...mainly because you'd never be alone with any of the children, so there isn't really any point. It seems a bit OTT to be checked if you are a parent helper, or going to be constantly within sight of a teacher or administrator of the school.

dolphin13 · 20/04/2010 22:26

I have a enhanced crb for fostering,
another for youth justice panel work.
A third for helping at school.

Annoying that 1 doesn,t cover all roles but never had to give bank or health details and only 4 pages, 1 of which you don,t need to fill in.

carrieboo75 · 20/04/2010 22:26

There is a new system being impletmented as of July, it is joined up and offers continuous cover (i.e. if info changes employer is notified). All concerns, allegations, charges, convictions etc will be held and assesed. Anyone can ring info through and they will investgate. It is their job to asses everything on file and give the employer a simple yes or no. The answer can change at anytime based on the info held.

Independant Safeguarding Authority

www.isa-gov.org.uk

kitkatsforbreakfast · 20/04/2010 22:28

That will improve matters enormously. I knew there were going to be changes but wasn't sure what they were.