CRB Checks

choccymoose

I work in the LA in children's services and we recommend that CRB checks are updated every 3 years, we cannot however legally enforce this, but can and do make it a condition of accessing funding streams. Settings are also advised to get a self deceleration of suitability to remain employed once a year in between checks.

babyshoes

As I understand it, there are different 'levels' of CRB check - my job is split between classroom work and admin work in a school with special needs kids. I have recently had to do a re-check as the last one I had done was mistakenly only at the 'admin/office staff' level, not the 'working closely with kids sometimes alone' level. The residential staff have an even more in depth one, and apparently the Head Teacher's one takes absolutely ages to come back.

Due to the nature of our students, we are re-checked every couple of years, and when I worked in mainstream I was never re-checked. Not sure if that is just organisational policy though.

Sagaris

I work for a LA and ours are automatically renewed every 3 years. If someone comes to work for us and already has a CRB check done, they get another one too.

PrincessPlaty

Right sorry i probably should have given a bit more info in the original post been googling away for hours trying to find out what i can though!

It is for a friend of mine who is a self employed counselor and play therapy worker specialising in children and young adults. She has been informed today with regards to one child she deals with that she is no longer allowed to offer any services to this child as her police check wasnt up to date enough for the LA to be satisfied.

Im currently waiting for her to get back with me with the date that her last CRB was done.

Thanks for all the replies so far though!

Savvy_Sue

choccymoose wrote: »

Settings are also advised to get a self deceleration of suitability to remain employed once a year in between checks.

:rotfl: I love that typo! Mind you, I'm not sure that a self-declaration would be worth the paper it was written on if anything went wrong, but there you go ...

PrincessPlaty wrote: »

It is for a friend of mine who is a self employed counselor and play therapy worker specialising in children and young adults. She has been informed today with regards to one child she deals with that she is no longer allowed to offer any services to this child as her police check wasnt up to date enough for the LA to be satisfied.

Im currently waiting for her to get back with me with the date that her last CRB was done.

Thanks for all the replies so far though!

I don't think you'll get very far: if the LA says it wants a more recent check, then that's what they want. Is she contracted by this LA to offer services to any other children?

It's worth noting that the whole process is changing slightly: as well as CRB checks, everyone will have to be checked by the ISA, but just the once. You'll then be on an 'OK' list, which obviously you can be removed from if you do anything you shouldn't. But if you haven't had that ISA check done, no-one will be able to employ you. Details here.

Dear_Prudence

I would say every 2 years is quite standard, 3 years maximum (DH is a teacher). Like you say, as soon as it's printed it's considered out of date, so it's a bit of a tricky one.

PrincessPlaty

Thanks for that Sue have passed the info on.

Her last crb check was done 3 years ago.

The situation is (with as much detail as i know) she was seeing a little girl for play therapy counselling since Nov last year doing a regular 1 hour session with her each week which the girls mother was paying for as she couldnt find anyone who could offer her anything through gp/social services. The little girl was made subject to a child protection plan at the end of january. LA have said yesterday that her crb check isnt recent enough for working with a child who is subject to a plan.

This was after she was invited to attend conference and write a report about the work she had done with the little girl. From my friends point of view, the LA are clutching at straws to try and make life as difficult as possible for this mum and her child, in the report she wrote everything was apparently positive and apparently contradicted everything that SS are trying to say about the family.

She was refused entry into the meeting yesterday after her report was read, they also kept her report, she was then told she could not work with the child anymore. She apparently asked if she could still see the child on a friend basis and was told no!

Understandably she is quite upset by this she had built up a good relationship with the little girl and her family on a friend basis as well as one in a professional capacity. She didnt think she was doing anything wrong

whitewing

Firstly, she should get a new Enhanced CRB check done. It isn't that expensive for just one check.

Secondly, did she have some form of legal advice available as part of her professional insurance? If so, she should give them a call to see if the LA can withhold her report etc.

SailorSam

On the cabs we needed to get a new Crb check every 2yrs.

[Deleted User]

It should be every 2/3 years as anything can happen in a few years.
However that wont be needed soon with the roll out of http://www.isa-gov.org.uk/