New CRB costing so much!

[AngelNanny]

Hi everyone,

I am a nanny and have just finished maternity leave. As my last position made me redundant for the end of my maternity leave, I have been looking for a new nanny job. (no where near as easy before now I need part time and to be able to take my baby with me!).

My last CRB ran out whilst I was on my last position and they didn't require me to update it. But now I'm relooking I need an updated CRB.

My problem is: as we cannot get them ourselves I have been asked agencies about costing and they are quoting me a cost of £64 which I know the CRB doesn't cost nearly that much.
Does anybody know of a cheaper way of getting a CRB? I'm not being stingy but due to certain circumstances I am a single mum, my baby is almost 8months, I have had to go on income support in the interim (which is so new to me as i have always worked), I also spent a week and a half in hospital with a life threatening condition and ended up having an operation my baby was just 6weeks and i then had to move when baby was 3months old due to the situation and my private rent is not a pretty sum! :-)

I feel like I'm whinging on when my real question is, does anyone know where I can get a new CRB for a cheaper price than £64 because I can't afford to not work and I can't afford to go back to work at that price!

Thank you :-)

i'm in a similar situation, direct gov website says it's £44 yet i've been quoted £66 for a company to basically check my docs i assume

mad as i only got my last one in November! i started a thread about it too

You can register with ofsted for £100 ish obviously you've got to meet their requirements but you most probably are anyway, but may also be a selling point for some parents and worth the extra to get your crb?

The agencies are basically charging £20+ extra as an admin fee but it doesn't cost that much to send of the docs.
It really bugs me because these are agencies that are wanting me take jobs that they would be paid for by the families.

I know offsted is just over £100 but when I can't afford £60-£70 for a CRB I cant afford £100 for Ofsted and my first aid is due to be updated again next month! I'm not sure how we are expected to meet these costs if currently unemployed due to having children, redundancy or any reason. I feel there should be some funding.

I agree with you southeastastra, it's so difficult. I am also in the southeast.

Some agencies are not a Registered Body and so use an Umbrella Company to process the check. That middleman adds on extra cost.

All agencies I would expect will add a processing fee. It's how they make money.

Do consider if being Ofsted registered would be beneficial, may make you more employable. It does cost more though.

CRB's do not have an expiry date, but will name a particular organisation who applied for it, for example I have 3, so the last place I needed one accepted that I had been 'done' 3 times and didn't feel it necessary to be done again.

Some childminders don't have one at all, merely an old police check, Ofsted said it wasn't necessary for all childminders to get one even though some of us insisted we needed it to show parents. I only managed to get one as the children turned 16 and sneakily filled one in for me too at the same time!

DS has used his for many different jobs over the last 8 years, even for a job abroad, DD used hers for 3 different temporary nanny jobs.

The crazy thing is they never need to be renewed, even though they are only valid for the day they are issued as offences could have even commited since.

Maybe your potential employer may accept the one you have, and you could say they are welcome to apply for a new one for you.

I like your suggestion Alibubbles,
I have had so many over the years to show and fantastic references etc.

I did tell agencies that would only renew if I received a job offer so if I had to borrow the money I could pay it back with wages I'd definitely have. However I will also go with your suggestion :-) thank you

Iv finally had a potential job come in today which would be perfect and best of all my son could come too (I'm a single parent). My CV is being sent off and il keep my fingers crossed