CRB check for new nanny

[runikka]

Good evening

Please could someone possibly advise how you go about getting a CRB check carried out on a potential nanny. Everything we read states that the individual cannot apply for one and that we, as parents and employer, cannot directly apply either. It mentions nanny agencies but we are directly employing.

We have tried an umbrella company but they have phoned and said they cannot act for us either. Is there anyway of obtaining one The nanny seems fine, has one from 2006 but doesn't have a more recent one as her previous employer retained it. We would just like an up-to-date one for peace of mind.

Many thanks
kirsty

can she not contact her previous employer, (or you could) and ask for it back?

At the moment you cannot apply for one. When the new system comes in then you will be able to register to check her.

The only other way is maybe by applying and registering with OFSTED and they will automatically run a CRB check as part of their registration process. Obviously does cost more

From the latest update e-mail from ISA, the new system does not appear to kick in until late 2010 / early 2011. So some way off yet for that.

Some nanny agencies will arrange a CRB check for nannies who register with them, even if they don't actually get a job through them. Best if your nanny is honest with agencies and just keeps asking various agencies until they find one who will do the check - there will be a fee... the CRB check fee itself plus however much the agency wants to charge on top for their time.

Another way to get one is for your nanny to apply for Ofsted Registration. That however is likely to cost more (current cost £103) and will require your nanny to meet certain minimum requirements in terms of childcare and First Aid training, plus having liability insurance.

surely the nanny in question should pay for her own one (cost of £56) if she is looking for jobs and wants to be employable?

Blondeshave. She can't apply for her own unless she is going through an agency. Individuals can not get a CRB check.

I am a bit confused about the her previous employer retained her previous check. Two copies are sent out one to the person and one to the employer.

Sounds like the previous employer for some reason kept the Applicant Copy document, which the nanny should have kept themselves.
As I understand the system there are two copies - one for the Registered Body and one for the Applicant. The Registered Body would be the agency, Umbrella organisation, Ofsted, or whomever processed the check... not usually the employer (though in theory some employers may also be Registered Bodies).

surely all the agencys this nanny is with with would have told her to get a crb

all of my local agencys wont have a nanny on their books unless have a recent crb or ask the agency to do one

Many thanks for your replies.

We are going to ask her to register with Ofsted anyway so maybe that is the way forward

I'm not sure on previous employment. She has worked for a leisure centre which I think might be where the more recent one originated from. We have seen the one from 2006.

Thanks again

Some babysitting agencies, such as Sitters, do not carry out CRB checks on their baby sitters but expect that in the case of those who work in nurseries one has already been done and in the case of nannies, they are allowed to baby sit without having a CRB check done.

Surely an agency would not take on someone without doing a crb check, especially if they didn't have one already from say Ofsted.
The new ISA thing will change that with luck, as all childcarers will eventually need to be ISA registered. Could be a couple of years yet though as the system is just starting to kick in.

Nick, I don't think nannies need to be ISA registered.

I personally think the CRB / ISA is over rated. And, I wouldn't bother asking the nanny to get one.

However, if you really want one, you could get the nanny to volunteer at church or school and they will get her one (probably for free).

They will need to be. It'll take a few years though as nick said.

A lot of agencies will take nannies without a CRB. Sad but true...

Nannies will be exempt from ISA initially, like they are from being Ofsted Reg.
However agency childcare workers are another matter, not clear if they would be exempt, as the agency is doing the recruiting not parents directly.
Ultimately parents can employ whom they like. By checking the persons ISA status it may give some added reassurance.

Nannies will be exempt from ISA initially, like they are from being Ofsted Reg.
However agency childcare workers are another matter, not clear if they would be exempt, as the agency is doing the recruiting not parents directly.
Ultimately parents can employ whom they like. By checking the persons ISA status it may give some added reassurance.

From the ISA website (www.isa-gov.org.uk/Default.aspx?page=315):

"As a parent employing someone to look after your children you are not obliged to check if they are ISA-registered, but you are free to do so for the extra reassurance this can offer."

So, where did you hear that parents will be required to hire nannies who are ISA checked?

Agencies seem to think we'll all need to register with ISA. So any nanny who registers with an agency to find work will presumably need to register with ISA too, and once you're in it looks like you're in. At least 3 agencies have told me this now but none of them know when it'll come into force.

I don't know many nannies who don't register with agencies at some stage so ultimately it will become expected- like a CRB is now, although I respect you don't worry about that, Athene! So purely from a marketing POV nannies are going to need to be. Legally, no, but legally we don't need anything yet it's next to impossible to find work without at least a 1st aid certificate, this post demonstrates that a CRB check is pretty necessary too and unqualified nannies have always struggled compared to qualified ones. I can see how it's a good thing and appreciate what it's trying to achieve but think everything is over-regulated anyway and this is just another cost and another level of bureaucracy. I think I heard that the ISA was planned to replace the single CRB check but it wasn't anywhere official so I've no idea whether it's reliable or not.

Having said that I'm of the opinion that OFSTED are going to get their claws into all nannies eventually so I have no hope for this country. I'm off!

Oh, well, you know how Itrust what the agencies say.

I think they may be jumping the gun on their pre-announcement.

What you need to do is ask your nanny to become Ofsted registered. In that way she will be able to have a CRB, but to become Ofsted registered she must have get public liability insurance and have a first-aid certificate.