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Original poster

DBS issues

31 replies

Mamalicious16 · 12/08/2019 16:48

Around 2 years ago, I volunteered for Age UK as a befriender to a terminally ill elderly gentleman. He passed away 6 months later and I stopped volunteering as on the days I want volunteering I did a level 3 teaching assistant course at college. I then applied for an agency and worked for them until I got a fixed term contract in a school. This has now ended so I applied to another agency. They want me to pay for another DBS even though I'm on the update service
The reason they've given is, because I would for Age UK I've been checked on the adult safeguarding database. (?!). I can't understand this as the schools I've worked in since, plus the nursery didn't have an issue.

Can anyone clarify for me please? Thanks

OP posts:
redexpat · 12/08/2019 17:04

Please dont take this as gospel as its probably out of date: when I had crb checks back in the day they were valid for one year. So if you started the teaching within a year of volunteering it probably covered you. But now its a new employer and the other one has expired.

Hotpinkangel19 · 12/08/2019 17:12

No that's right. You need a new DBS.

Original poster
Mamalicious16 · 12/08/2019 17:16

My temporary contract ended in July. I have a "bank staff" position to work at a children's nursery and im starting work in September for another agency .....I don't need another DBS as that's why you pay for the update service ....

OP posts:
OtraCosaMariposa · 12/08/2019 18:09

The problem is that your first disclosure was to work with the elderly. When doing DBS checks at enhanced level, police "filter" information on your file. If for example, someone has been reported several times for allegations of dishonesty against the elderly but never charged/convicted, they may decide to disclose that on an enhanced certificate for a befriending position. For a nursery job involving children, the decision process would be different.

(Not suggesting for a second that you have anything on your record at all, but you see how the decision can vary depending on whether it's a job with children or vulnerable adults).

However, it seems very strange that the first school and nursery were OK with it and the new one isn't. Each setting has to make its own decisions regarding safeguarding though. This new place has obviously decided on a belt and braces approach. Bit rubbish that they're asking you to pay though.

OtraCosaMariposa · 12/08/2019 18:10

Oh and DBS certificates don't expiry. Individual settings set their own rules about how often they wish staff to renew them, if they're not enrolled in Update. It's usually every 3ish years.

PixieLumos · 12/08/2019 18:12

If you’ve paid to use the update service you shouldn’t have to apply for a new one.

Original poster
Mamalicious16 · 12/08/2019 18:15

Sorry I still don't get it.

The befriender thing was nearly 3 years ago. I've worked in 3 schools as a volunteer since, worked in 2 nurseries , for an agency and in a pre school.

What am I missing?

OP posts:
OtraCosaMariposa · 12/08/2019 18:22

That every school/nursery does its own thing when it comes to DBS. The first however many were happy to use your Update. This one isn't.

Are you sure they know what Update is? In my experience it's poorly advertised and not well understood.

tryingtorun · 12/08/2019 18:34

If you look at your Dbs certificate it should state which workforce it is applicable for. E.g. Child or adult or both. I imagine the age UK one is probably adult workforce only hence the need for one that covers child workforce.

unitednations · 12/08/2019 18:39

An organisation isn't obliged to use the update service to check you.

Sianlouise432 · 12/08/2019 19:02

You pay for the DBS update service, any employer can check your DBS check online. I have no idea why you'd need a new one. I've never had an issue with it?!?!

NoBaggyPants · 12/08/2019 19:11

Your new employer is correct. The DBS update service can only be used where you're applying for the same workforce. So if you're going from adult to children, then a new check should be carried out.

Comefromaway · 12/08/2019 21:33

When you first apply for a DBS & subscribe to the update service you have to state which lists you need to be checked again. If you were only checked against the Adult list (as seems likely) then the school & nursery were negligent in not insisting on another check.

MyBeloved · 12/08/2019 21:36

You need a new DBS as your uodate service one is for adults not children.

I'm shocked the children's settings you worked in over the past 3 years have been so lax.

Original poster
Mamalicious16 · 12/08/2019 22:19

Think there's some confusion. I didn't pay for the DBS 3 years ok for the elderly one. The schools I subsequently worked / volunteered in presumably paid for the DBS. I paid for my own and to do the update service when I started at an agency last September. I've only ever worked with children since. The nurseries and schools I've worked at since have asked to see my DBS ( the most recent ) and I've told them I'm.on the update service. It's not come to light until I tried to register with another agency. The upshot is the first time I had a DBS was when I was with AGE UK and subsequent ones ( I've had many ) have ALL been working with children and NONE have had an issue until now .......

OP posts:
MyBeloved · 12/08/2019 22:24

Yes, but you have to tell the update service to add your other DBS relating to children to the online account. Otherwise they will just keep updating your adult one.

LIZS · 12/08/2019 22:25

It is not unusual to renew application every 3-5 years although technically they never expire. As previous was in a voluntary capacity and presumably this role paid it would likely be a requirement even if already paying for the update service. Normally an employer would fund it though.

Original poster
Mamalicious16 · 12/08/2019 22:33

I haven't got an adult one on the update service.
I paid last September for the online and update service for the children's one, which is a work not voluntary one and worked with children since.

I think the agency just want money tbh......

OP posts:
Original poster
Mamalicious16 · 12/08/2019 22:37

AFIAK - the volunteer doesn't pay for DBS

OP posts:
MyBeloved · 12/08/2019 22:48

In that case, I would agree with the PP who suggested this agency may not understand the update service. It does happen a lot!

unitednations · 13/08/2019 07:30

The agency are not obliged to use the update service. No organisation has to use the update service.

unitednations · 13/08/2019 07:31

The agency are not obliged to use the update service. No organisation has to use the update service.
Why don't you ask them why they don't use it ?

unitednations · 13/08/2019 07:32

Sorry for two postings Grin

Hoppinggreen · 13/08/2019 12:07

When I joined the PTA at my DS school I had to have a new DBS check despite having 2 already in place.
The school has a policy of only accepting ones done by the LEA for schools, so one from another school in the same LEA would have been acceptable any other DBS wasn’t

Tojigornot · 13/08/2019 12:11

I’ve had to argue about the update service with more than one organisation. It’s poorly understood.

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