School covid volunteers will not be DBS checked

[jomartin281271]

Schools minister told the media this morning that the volunteers they are recruiting to carry out the covid checks at school won't be DBS checked. So they're letting total amateurs who could have an unsavoury history carry out a test that in some rare cases has caused serious injury. Well done government. Another botched job that is doomed to fail.

They actually don't legally need to be if they are never alone with any children.

As is the case for any volunteer in a school setting, if they are supervised they don't need DBS check.
Reference : 'Volunteers' section at the following link schoolleaders.thekeysupport.com/pupils-and-parents/safeguarding/safeguarding-checks-and-the-scr/dbs-checks-who-needs-one/

Pressed send too soon.
It's on the head to assess if the volunteer requires a DBS check. If you have any concerns I'd raise it with the Head of the relevant school.
I'm not saying I agree or disagree with it, I'm just saying they fall into the Volunteer category and that is the guidance / law for all volunteers in an English school setting.

I think they should be checked regardless of not being alone. When children meet adults in a school setting, they see them as being adults in a position of authority/trustworthy, just by virtue of them being there , so would be more vulnerable to being approached by the adult outside of a school setting.

Ian Huntley didn’t approach children whilst at work.

The adult will also have access to personal data about the child, which shouldn’t be shared with every Tom, Dick and Harry.

Also, who will be responsible for keeping the volunteers in line of sight at all times? It’s ridiculous.

@jomartin281271

Schools minister told the media this morning that the volunteers they are recruiting to carry out the covid checks at school won't be DBS checked. So they're letting total amateurs who could have an unsavoury history carry out a test that in some rare cases has caused serious injury. Well done government. Another botched job that is doomed to fail.

Why do they need to be though? They will never be alone with pupils.

It can take weeks to get the DBS results through and it’s a big expense for the school. Do you really want to waste money on that just to prove someone hasn’t been convicted of something considering the circumstances? A DBS does not prove someone is safe to be alone with children; it merely proves they haven’t been caught doing something they shouldn’t.

Volunteers don’t need to be DBS checked as long as they are supervised by someone who IS DBS checked.

Secondary school children should be able to test themselves, my DS (12) has SEN and has done multiple tests on himself so I’m sure the majority will manage.
I don’t imagine the volunteers will have physical contact with the children.

@Teaanddimebars

I think they should be checked regardless of not being alone. When children meet adults in a school setting, they see them as being adults in a position of authority/trustworthy, just by virtue of them being there , so would be more vulnerable to being approached by the adult outside of a school setting.

Ian Huntley didn’t approach children whilst at work.

The adult will also have access to personal data about the child, which shouldn’t be shared with every Tom, Dick and Harry.

Also, who will be responsible for keeping the volunteers in line of sight at all times? It’s ridiculous.

Ian Huntley would have passed a DBS though as he didn’t have any previous convictions, even though social services and the police had been aware of him in the past. He is a good example of how a DBS isn’t a guarantee you are employing someone safe to be with children.

From my understanding of the rules:

1. If you are paying them - they need a DBS as they are working in a regulated place of work
2. If they are performing the tests on children - they need a DBS as they are carrying out a regulated activity (medical/healthcare)
3. If they are a volunteer in a different role, cleaning the bays, admin, processing results - they need to be supervised by someone with a DBS at all times, which seems pointless as surely the person supervising could just do that...

If parents refused this testing, it would really help.

Who will be supervising? Teachers? TAs? As if they don't already have a job....

That is a fair point @FestiveChristmasLights. And while it is not a guarantee by any means, at least it would be a small step and we’d know that weren’t, at the very least, convicted sex offenders roaming about in schools.

*that there

Why do they need to be though? They will never be alone with pupils. You do need to risk assess it. Will they be with other unchecked people or school staff? What are arrangements for volunteers needing to go to the loo? Will they be accompanied or just allowed to wander round the school?

I think it can be a bit more complicated than just saying they don't need to be. I'm assuming this could be thousands of people so quite possible there will be some unsavoury characters in there. Not that I think a DBS is a magic answer either.

DBS is pretty useless for first offenders though. It only checks basic criminal record. It doesn’t check what people are capable of or likely to do in the future.

@ancientgran

Why do they need to be though? They will never be alone with pupils. You do need to risk assess it. Will they be with other unchecked people or school staff? What are arrangements for volunteers needing to go to the loo? Will they be accompanied or just allowed to wander round the school?

I think it can be a bit more complicated than just saying they don't need to be. I'm assuming this could be thousands of people so quite possible there will be some unsavoury characters in there. Not that I think a DBS is a magic answer either.

Realistically, the testing shouldn’t be taking that long and the risk assessments should mean either one specific toilet is allocated (that does not permit access to the rest of the school) or else something like portaloo is ordered and used.

One thing the risk assessments will focus highly on is the safely of pupils and keeping them separate from anyone outside of their bubble (so no shared toilets etc) and safe. These checks are designed to get children back to education quicker and the well-being of some children away from school is also a high priority. It’s a tough situation and judgement to make.

A teacher who has been at my DCs primary for years is now a convicted sex offender. His DBS was up to date when caught....

@Summerstorms

They actually don't legally need to be if they are never alone with any children.

This.

And all a DBS proves is that you haven't been caught yet.

Does this mean there's going to be paid jobs to do this testing?

DBS checked doesn't always mean safe, it means not caught yet.

Surely it's better to have covid volunteers in place as quickly as possible without having to go through the DBS process?

If you weigh up pros and cons and risks of each situation, no DBS but covid volunteers in place ASAP seems by far the best option to me.

We all need to make sure our kids know not to talk to strangers, not to go into anyone's house or car even if they do know them etc - making sure your kids are aware will do more good than any piece of paper.

@lljkk

Does this mean there's going to be paid jobs to do this testing?

Doubt it, can you imagine the cost of recruiting and paying all these staff, there’s so many schools!

@lljkk

Does this mean there's going to be paid jobs to do this testing?

I'm pretty sure it's already been confirmed there's no money available to actually implement this

Give it a rest OP.

Realistically, the testing shouldn’t be taking that long and the risk assessments should mean either one specific toilet is allocated (that does not permit access to the rest of the school) or else something like portaloo is ordered and used.

Realistically not all schools will have a specific toilet that does not permit access to the rest of the school. Might be a rush on portaloos. Sounds more and more attractive for volunteers. Come and get close to hundreds of teenagers in January, umbrellas provided (or not) if you need a trip to our luxury portaloo.