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.

@ancientgran

Earlier in the thread I posted the DBS guidelines for volunteers in covid related positions. Those guidelines clearly state a DBS isn't necessary straight away providing supervision measures are put in place. THAT is the safeguarding measure in this case, and perfectly adequate. Nobody is suggesting giving members of the public free run of the school premises without being accompanied by a member of staff. And I explained that an abuser can abuse in plain sight, they are quite a devious group of people. Would you seriously be happy if a known child abuser was in close contact with your child as long as there was someone else supervising?

Would you call standing in a crowded hall and ordering people to form a queue close contact? Would you call sitting at a table next to a teacher and writing down names as people pass by the table for 60 seconds close contact? Because I wouldn't. I'm not being goady, I genuinely don't think this is a big risk. Close contact to me would be sitting next to them on the bus and talking to them for the journey, sharing a car with them, that sort of thing.

@nosswith

Whilst they will not be alone with children/pupils, they will probably gain a knowledge about the school, access etc, or find out information that could be used to cause harm. Or even overhear things such as who is in a house with a lone parent.

They are not going to be there for just an hour or two such as the photocopier repair person referred to above.

Volunteers usually aren’t allowed in staff rooms so unlikely to hear anything. The pupils won’t be standing in line talking about themselves - most schools expect pupils to line up quietly. What knowledge could they find out that is secret? Not like they will be given a proper tour, given any codes, log in details for the school computers, and lifelong access passed reception.

Same could be said about any public place like your local supermarket. I learned more about local families there than I did working in a local school btw.

What knowledge could they find out that is secret? Not like they will be given a proper tour, given any codes, log in details for the school computers, and lifelong access passed reception. Few years ago I was volunteering at Christmas, sitting with a group of kids when out of the blue one started making very explicit disclosures about an adult running an after school activity. I was totally gobsmacked, didn't want to shut him up, worried about what the other children were hearing. Fortunately the bell went, kids ran off for break and I handed the problem over to the class teacher.

It is surprising what children suddenly come out with, heaven knows why he decided to disclose at that particular moment but it was very explicit and very serious sex abuse.

I also heard alot about some parents relationships and what mum got up to with various men.

It did make me feel awkward at the school gate sometimes.

I'm not being goady, I genuinely don't think this is a big risk. I used to work for a large police force, I prepared files for court. After some of the things I've read I maybe see risk where you don't. Lucky you.

Older kids can swab their own nose and throat, why can't parents swab their own younger children while they wait on the queue.

Paedophiles can and do abuse children - including physically - in the same room or even in view of others. Some witnesses will notice, some won't, many who do notice will tell themselves they're being stupid, he isn't meaning "that" when he touches there, oh, that touch was an accident, don't ruin a good man's life for your hysterical suspicions etc etc.

I remember one case of a nursery worker caught fully assaulting, out in the open of the nursery, behind a low bookshelf. The boldness is part of the grooming - it teaches the kids not to bother telling, as adults have already seen and done nothing, therefore it must be fine and it pressures adults into assuming abusive contact may be ok if there is no attempt to conceal.

This is why randos must not be allowed into the school to make contact with our kids and administer these tests.

I won't consent to the testing of my youngest child unless he has symptoms. And then, I'd like to do it myself if a medical professional isn't available. There was a lot of upset from the nasal flu spray. I would give consent to my eldest testing herself but that's it.

"a test that in some rare cases has caused serious injury"

Source please? Because I've been doing lateral flow tests for about 3 weeks now, and I reckon the only way you could hurt someone with it would be to drop a box of test kits on their foot.

How, especially in a large secondary, do we supervise every volunteer all of the time.
Volunteer signs in for shift...staff member sends them to the school hall, with the non porous floor to start testing duties...