CRB Check

[HopeItHelps]

I'd like to apply as an individual. What's the cheapest way to go about it? Also, what's the difference between the standard check and the enhanced check? How long do each last? TIA

I may be wrong but I think you cannot apply as an individual - it needs to be your employer/potential employer
There had been moves to change the method of CRB checking as the certificate was only applicable to one employer and people ended up needing several depending on what they did. This was to be amalgamated into the Independent Safeguarding Authority, but the process stalled with the change of government.

There has to be a way for individuals to do it, I know people who do freelance work in various schools. Private & state. One guy bitterly mentions having to fork out 55 quid for it.

pssst: Netmums thread on same thing.

No, there is absolutely no way for individuals to get a CRB check for themselves. Apart from anything else, the employer's version of the enhanced disclosure (which is what you need for working with children) may include information which you are not allowed to see and which will therefore not be included in employee's copy.

A freelancer may be employed by an agency who will conduct the CRB check. Alternatively many agencies are happy to apply for a CRB check on behalf of a freelance teacher even if the freelancer doesn't actually work for them. And once someone has a CRB check conducted through one employer many employers will be happy to simply take a look at the employee's copy of the disclosure and get a reference from the employer who received the full disclosure confirming that it did not reveal any additional information.

My dh is a self employed guitar teacher and only works from home and he has one. Will ask him how he got it.

Sometimes governing bodies will do it on behalf of self employed members etc. That's how I got mine as a self employed person. This wasn't accepted for school though.

Thy are renewed every three years where I work which I believe is standard

Thy are renewed every three years where I work which I believe is standard

not in any school I've workied in vert.

I specifically asked the OOFSTED inspector this when she came as it costs to renew CRB checks for employees. AS Chair of the committee I really didn't want to get charged, She said that you do not need to renew.

OOFSTED??!!

They don't have to be renewed , it is up to the indivudal setting to determine its policy. Some require a specific one for each role others will countersign a copy of one done previously for somewhere else.

It is considered good practise to recheck every 3 years. The problem is that a CRB check is just a snapshot. The only way you find out any new information is to get a fresh disclosure. Doing so every 3 years is not compulsory but I would recommend a risk assessment if you aren't going to do it. Think about what would happen if there was a child protection issue and it emerged that you hadn't run a CRB check on the individual involved for 10 years, especially if a fresh check would have revealed relevant information.

I would imagine it is but it costs and we don't have that kind of money...plus OFSTED lady really didn't think it was needed. So I am happy to stay as we are.

I have to get mine re-done every 3 years - but I'm a supply teacher and schools are (understandably) very vigilant giving someone unknown to them 30 children for the day.

In fact ALLL of mine from my multiple agencies are due to need to be re-done this year, I give it a couple of weeks before the phone goes with the "hiiiii we're just updating your file" and mugging for £35 starts (I'm with 3 supply agencies, all of whom want their own ones doing, so it's the best part of £100 for me)

I'm a TA in a primary school. Ours have to be renewed every 3 years...the office reminds us a couple of months before it is due,to give time for it to be sent off and come back with no gaps.(We do not pay, the Local Authority does).

When I was a volunteer,(a parent helper,then on my NVQ2 TA training) the school sent off for my CRB free of charge. I believe this is the case for all volunteers (well, in my Local Authority, anyway).

Our LA does checks every three years. Friends school was checked up on as part of safeguarding by OFSTEd