Isn't it illegal for someone to work as a nanny without a CRB check?

[flowerybeanbag]

I've had an application for my nanny position from someone, looks good. I went back to her asking for confirmation that she had an up to date CRB check as it wasn't mentioned in her application.

She came back and said it was 'under way'. She is working as a nanny currently elsewhere and has been for a while. Isn't that illegal?

nope.

thanks eleusis, blimey!

I've never asked for one. I hire from abroad so what would be the point of a record check in the UK?

If I hired an English girl who worked at a local nursery I would expect her to have one. But, really, for a foreign nanny I think it's a false sense of security.

Not illegal.

There are very few regulations regarding working as a nanny. You can more or less declare yourself to be one and start working (if anyone'll have you.)

I've never had one nannying as I haven't gone through an agency and private families can't apply for one - though no one I've worked for has ever asked for one to be honest. I have a CRB check now through my university.

I guess that makes sense eleusis, and thanks WT for response.

Everyone I've seen or cvs I've had so far have always emphasised their check so I was a bit that this one has been working as a nanny for a while for more than one family without one.

She is English so I will make sure she gets it if she ends up being the right person.

would definitely insist on one, don't let her continue saying it is "under way"....

Definitely will orangina, I can see in some circumstances as eleusis mentions it might be a bit pointless but here it wouldn't be.

Rahrah I'm surprised no one has asked for one, wouldn't occur to me not to tbh, it seems such a big thing when looking at any cvs sent to me or online, they all make a big deal of it so I guess I just assumed it was a legal requirement or if not actually legal, something you would struggle to get a job without iyswim?

i wouldn't hire someone without it. would frankly wonder why anyone in childcare would not want to have one iyswim......

How do you apply for one as an individual? Do you go through an agency?

Mine took about 3-4 weeks to come through flowery, so it may be true that it's underway.

And about families not asking for CRBs - that kind of thing is a lot more common than you think! Some families don't even check references. I temped for a family once who didn't even seem that bothered about meeting me in person before I moved in I insisted on meeting them/the children before signing a contract! They never checked my references, just handed their toddler and baby over and went to work.

I've got no reason to doubt that it is under way, timescale is useful thanks, will obviously check it's come through.

I am at people not needing to meet you/check references rahrah!

eleusis, even if someone came from abroad (unless they were straight off the plane, in which case, you are right, it is pointless...), they are as likely as anyone else to have possibly got on the wrong side of the law. Just thinking of someone i know who had a lot of work done to her house (ie: had the builders in), as well as having someone in a few times a week to help with cleaning. All E European as it happened. Money went missing, cheque books, then personal possessions etc, a diamond ring (!), all sorts of stuff. Obvious worry was the builders, they all swore blind it wasn't them. Long and the short of it was, it was the woman who came in to clean, she was caught with a load of my friends personal possessions in her bag one day as she was leaving. Police called, she denied everything (!), police and friend went to her flat, found a load of stuff there... in the end, she was issued w a caution. Augh! Which would at least show up on a crb check I think, which was the point of this whole long story!
(sorry!)

yes, completely shocking rahrah!

I just thought - god you're lucky I'm good at my job! Other nannies I know have had similar experiences.

I just had a look at the CRB check website and couldn't work out if it was possible for individuals to apply for one or to get one for yourself.

You have to go through an approved body or something don't you? I'd guess you'd probably approach an agency and get them to do it for you, paying them obviously. Don't know though, I'm speculating.

Orangina, yep, straight off the plane to my house. So, no point.

I think the CRB adds some value. But, I personally thing a couple good references are worth more. And I mean references that you actually speak to.

There is no harm in it, of course. It's a good thing to have. I have one.

Hey, did anyone see that BBC show last night (around 8:00 I think?) on the reporter who went in and uncovered the things they do not bother checking at a nursery (Button in West London) at Mark Warner, and how OFSTED inspecters are a bit too relaxed about inspections? Scary stuff.

most nannies have a crb and they get it done through an agency. A lot of agencies use "civil and corporate" who issue a receipt to say that the CRB check is going through.

Very few seem to have public liability insurance though - check to make sure your does as well as an up to date first aid certificate.

I am a self employed nanny and have a CRB

One of the agencies I am registered with did it for me through civil and corporate.

Individuals can't get a CRB check. Quite some time ago, I had correspondence with someone from the CRB with regard to how employers of nannies were to get checks done on their employees. Back then they said they would look at it... but several years on, nothing has happened.

So the methods that currently exist are:
Ofsted Childcare Register - A registered nanny will have their Enhanced CRB check done Yearly. A condition of the scheme is also that the nanny has Liability Insurance.

Agencies - an agency can do an Enhanced CRB check on a candidate for a job.

The CRB is only as current as the day you get it anyway. So if someone had one 6months ago, whos to say they havent done anything in the last 6months. They arent like 1st aid cert that have an exp date. Technically, it is the employers responsibility to get one for every new member of staff, however like it has already been said, private families cant apply.

I never had one in almost 7 years of nannying. One boss went to get one, then changed her mind as she thought I looked innocent enough. Luckily, I am a good girl who has never been in the back of a police van, though with the hunky policeman i've seen lately round here, i'm sure it wouldn't be a bad thing

I always try to have one done before starting a new position but they often take ages. The last one I had took 2 and a half months.