Pretty shocked ...

[dontpushintomeplease]

Started a new job at the beginning of January. INSET day, then straight into teaching.

Three weeks later it emerges that not only have the school not received my references (I suspect didn’t send for them) but also my DBS hasn’t come back.

I have decided not to stay.

I’d be straight on the phone to report them op. That’s shockingly bad! They shouldn’t even be interviewing you without references, never mind actually letting you start working there!

Who should it be reported to? I’ve contacted my union.

I’m strangely shaken by it. I could have been anybody.

The Local Authority and/or ofsted. Serious safeguarding issue.

Thanks. Academy so I’m guessing the LA wouldn’t be relevant?

Safeguarding concern, so definitely report to LADO (local authority safeguarding officer)

Ah yes it won’t be the LA for an academy. I’m not sure I’m afraid...I’ve only ever been involved with LA schools. Hopefully someone who knows the answer will come along or if not I would just start with ofsted.

Thanks - will have to get further advice from the union, I think.

I’m reeling! How did this happen? I can see how the Soham murders happened, now.

DBS delays do happen but they should then do a risk assessment

Didn't you know that your DBS hadn't come?

I thought DBS were sent to the individual being checked not the organisation checking too.

Wow. I've been employed pending a reference before, a knobhead former ignored requests, but one had come in. No DBS is shocking. OFSTED report I'd imagine?

No joopy, I have had ones sent direct to me before but certainly the last two have gone straight to the school.

DBS delays do happen but I was appointed in October so plenty of time.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-england-tees-51376565

This is a case not too far away from me- supply teacher, allegations from one school didn’t get passed on to another school, something went wrong somewhere between the schools he was at and the supply agency.

And we've had DBS checks in less than a week in the last month!

Didn’t you have a DBS from your training provider? If you have a relatively recent one they may have not been too worried while they waited for a new one. Is the job alright otherwise? There seems to be more going on than just finding out this, for you to give up a job over it!

I trained in the early 2000s!

I've been volunteering in a school so have a DBS (enhanced) already, as well as a DBS from my last school as a teacher which was done 1.5 years ago. I've been offered a job at the school where I volunteered and they still won't let me start until the new DBS check is done with my job title on it rather than parent volunteer.

My DCs go to the school and whilst it's annoying I'm very glad they are so careful with checks to keep them safe.

@LeekMunchingSheepShagger I'm curious about "they shouldn't even be interviewing you without references". Would you mind elaborating, I'm not sure if I'm missing something. Is it standard practice to have everyone's references before even inviting to interview in the education sector?

Yes it’s standard practice to check references before interviewing (certainly in England anyway) @Mlou32

That’s really shocking. You should still contact the LADO even for an academy. You can start before dbs arrives if you’ve had references because any charges would be in the reference. But having neither dbs or references seems pretty negligent.
Do you like the job? Have you other safeguarding concerns?

I agree its preferable but not every school does it.

Report to LADO. If they can't even get this correct, what else are they not doing regarding safeguarding??

. Is it standard practice to have everyone's references before even inviting to interview in the education sector?

Yes! We always request references before interview and interviewees have to provide photographic ID at interview.

The references is not good. However if you have worked in another school with a DBS as a teacher just before you started ie no break in service there is a 6 month window for the new school to get a new DBS

Report to Ofsted