PARENT VOLUNTEER - DBS Check?

[user1494283706]

Are primary schools required to carry DBS checks on every parent who becomes classroom parent volunteers for minimum 1 hour per week? Or is it a decision discretionary made by the headteacher?
What about is a parent does three hours per week voluntary work in classroom or more?
My assumption is should the parent volunteer on special occasions only no DBS check is required, and the volunteer should not be left unattended with a child, but if the volunteer assists weekly, then a DBS check is required.
Am I right or wrong?
I can't find anything on the subject online.
Thank you for the clarification.

The thing is even if the parent is never ever left alone with any child in school, and even if they are only in once a week they can easily build up a relationship with a child. They then bump into each other outside of school, volunteer isn't a stranger because child knows them, and they must be safe because they wouldn't be in school otherwise... Parent won't necessarily know they are a volunteer not staff (how many people can actually name all the adults in their DCs school and what their role is?) and may reasonably assume they have had a DBS check.

@RainbowGlitterFairy You are right. My initial post is about regular parent volunteers who will attend weekly classes during the entire academic year. Teachers and Teaching Assistants could easily get used to volunteers presence and build up trust while forgeting no DBS check was carried out. Who will take the blame if something goes wrong? Isn't it tough enough to surpervise average thirty children? Should teachers also keep an eye on regular parent volunteers?

DBS checks required for helping out in any capacity at our school (running a stall at the summer fair doesn’t count). Makes the pool of helpers smaller but they’re very hot on it.

But as a ‘friend’ of mine was convicted of many child sex offences some years ago despite a clean CRB check I have pretty much zero faith in them despite holding one myself. They mean next to nothing.

Who will take the blame if something goes wrong?

The person who hurt a child? (Silly old fashioned me, holding a perpetrator responsible) Since you're assuming a DBS protects against harm to a child. Only it doesn't at all prove the bearer is safe to leave with a child. It just proves that they haven't been caught, yet.

"The thing is even if the parent is never ever left alone with any child in school, and even if they are only in once a week they can easily build up a relationship with a child. ". Surely the parent can develop a much closer relationship by inviting the child home for play dates which don't require a DBS.

My initial post is about regular parent volunteers who will attend weekly classes during the entire academic year. Teachers and Teaching Assistants could easily get used to volunteers presence and build up trust while forgeting no DBS check was carried out.

The presence, or not, of a dbs check makes no difference to the potential scenario. Even teachers can be abusive. Do you plan for your child to never be alone with any adult?

The important thing to remember is DBS is a tool we have to protect children but it shouldn’t be relied upon as the only means of protection. Without any checks you could have convicted abusers helpingbout in schools/youth groups/ kids sports, a DBS stops that but it doesnt replace the need for good working practices on a day to day level.

I agree with everyone's comments.
DBS checks in schools are tools to protect, to prevent and to deter risks and incidents involving children and adults. It is not a cure. Even with the strictest protocols, policies, vigilance and high standard safeguarding practices, one can still slip through the net, including staff, visitors and volunteers.

I believe we are being diverted from the initial subject:
Are DBS checks mandatory/standard procedures for parent volunteers assisting in school class on a weekly basis during the entire academic year considering it is mandatory for every school staffs?
The question is not about occasional or one-off volunteer work and assistance at schools.
Thank you.

It is not only relevant children but includes vulnerable adults too. Many will attend day and activity centres which are supported by volunteers. I'm not clear why you are asking though. Each LA/school/setting may differ as it is not statutory.

@LIZS. I am interested in knowing if it is mandatory to have DBS checks for regular parent volunteers in primary schools. I am not referring to activity centres or other institutions. Thank you.

According to www.safeguardinginschools.co.uk/ofsted-say-disclosure-barring-dbs-checks/ the answer is technically no it is not mandatory for volunteers. You would need to check policy with the specific LA and/or school as many will do so by default.

@LIZS 'The presence, or not, of a dbs check makes no difference to the potential scenario. Even teachers can be abusive. Do you plan for your child to never be alone with any adult?' Who said I have a child or this thread is related to my child? I am getting seriously annoyed with irrelevant comments diverting the initial aim of this thread. It is like Chinese Wishes! Why can't posters stick to the subject instead of diverting it to their own subject? What a waste of time and misleading manner to advice and support others. I asked for bananas and I get a full basket of fruits! Except the Bananas. There is no point carrying with this thread.

I replied to your specific query below. It is not a legal requirement but in practice many schools will have a policy to do so.

I agree with Admission's advice - it is for a school to decide on who they DBS check if they are volunteers. Whether they are supervised or not and would have an influence on the decision.

Predictive typing error: It is like Chinese Wispers (and not wishes)

@Lizs opened your link after I commented to your previous comment. Thank you.
Sprare some time to read the full content and link included in your link.

Very many schools will, rightly, consider it good practice to DBS check regular volunteers whether they are alone with children or not. Adults are rarely policed by other adults so it is taken in Trust that there is no contact. Clearly what a person does in their own home is not the responsibility of the school. So talking about people in their own homes is utterly irrelevant.

Each school has a Safeguarding Policy. When Ofsted come they check it is robust. In many areas the Policy is written by the LA or MAT to meet the needs of the schools. Few schools, if they have any sense at all, write their own safeguarding policies. Most schools follow local protocol agreed by all involved. Therefore policies may differ but many schools will DBS check regular volunteers whether they mingle with children or not.

Teachers and staff must be aware of possible abuse. They cannot ignore something that gives them cause for concern. It does not matter that they have 30 children, that is normal teaching, but anything they are worried about must be reported. It is a duty.

When I was working, a caretaker was taking children to the school library and showing them adult nude pictures. If he had not offended before, a DBS check wouldn’t have picked it up. A vigilant member of staff did. That’s what Safeguarding is about. Looking out for children.

I help at my children's school once a week. I had to have a DBS before I started. I often wonder if the parents know I have this as I wouldn't want just anyone that decides to go into my children's class be allowed without any checks.