joining an agency (teaching personnel)

kittycat204

Please help if you can, i am confused.

I was made redundant before christmas. I worked at a teaching assistant in a school for excluded kids. I have been applying for jobs. I applied for one via phone. I was told that job had gone but they might have another one suitable.

I got a bit caught up in the conversation and their enthusiasm about my skills. It took me a while to realise that they were an agency. They asked for my CV which i sent after the phone call.

I was told that i would be called before the end of the week, which i wasn't, it was the week after. When i was called back there was a lot of enthusiasm again. It was in the last breath i was told that i would need to bring a cheque for CRB costs.

I feel uncomfortable about the whole thing. I am meant to have my appointment with them on Wednesday and considering cancelling it. Not completely sure why it feels wrong to me. I suppose i feel i've been duped.

I looked them up on the web and found one site with reviews and they were one of the lowest rated, which doesn't help.

Am i been odd about it all for no reason?
I want to know if it's a normal tactic to get new clients on their books but advertising fake jobs?
What questions do i ask them?
Is it right that they ask me for the fee for my CRB?
If they are so enthusiast about my skills and talents should i just continue to look for jobs on my own rather than through them?
Are school and education searching for staff through agencies rather than posting in the more traditional way?

Please help, i need guidance.

bevanuk

I'm not 100% on this, but can you not pay for your own CRB and then give them copies? I think permanent employers have to do their own CRB checks (which they pay for) as a temp though you should be able to do it.

If they are happy to negotiate you should ask them to cover the cost and if they get you work they can deduct it from your first pay.

anamenottaken

kittycat204 wrote: »

Please help if you can, i am confused.

I was made redundant before christmas. I worked at a teaching assistant in a school for excluded kids. I have been applying for jobs. I applied for one via phone. I was told that job had gone but they might have another one suitable.

I got a bit caught up in the conversation and their enthusiasm about my skills. It took me a while to realise that they were an agency. They asked for my CV which i sent after the phone call.

I was told that i would be called before the end of the week, which i wasn't, it was the week after. When i was called back there was a lot of enthusiasm again. It was in the last breath i was told that i would need to bring a cheque for CRB costs.

I feel uncomfortable about the whole thing. I am meant to have my appointment with them on Wednesday and considering cancelling it. Not completely sure why it feels wrong to me. I suppose i feel i've been duped.

I looked them up on the web and found one site with reviews and they were one of the lowest rated, which doesn't help.

Am i been odd about it all for no reason?
I want to know if it's a normal tactic to get new clients on their books but advertising fake jobs?
What questions do i ask them?
Is it right that they ask me for the fee for my CRB?
If they are so enthusiast about my skills and talents should i just continue to look for jobs on my own rather than through them?
Are school and education searching for staff through agencies rather than posting in the more traditional way?

Please help, i need guidance.

I think you will find some agencies (eg Protocol in the education sector) will accept payment for your CRB from your first pay with them rather than asking for it straight away.

You can't get a CRB on yourself, it has to be done via an employer.

If the agency wants to be paid for the CRB upfront, check that they will immediately submit the forms you will have to complete. Have they also asked you for ID documentation which they also need for the CRB? How big a chque have they asked for?

patchi

Whilst I am not with Teaching Personnel, reviews for all agencies will vary from across the country, branch to branch. I know one friend of mine who lives down Birmingham way who gets lots of work through her agency, yet someone else in the same agency up near Leeds, has had nothing since they registered (July '11). Both are NQT's, but this also applies to support staff. I've heard of many agencies who ask NQT's, fully qualified teachers to do CS work, or TA work. Rates also vary.

Are you already with another agency? If so, do you have a CRB from them? All agencies when you register, ask for a cheque to pay for a new CRB and some say they will take it out of your first pay check - The former is the most common. It is very rare that an agency will agree portability on an exisiting CRB from another agency. I was very lucky that my first agency (which has given me no work since I registered, paid out for CRB etc), allowed portability on that CRB so I didn't have to fork out another £44 when I registered with a 2nd agency. This 2nd agency have been given me work.

I have been lucky in the sense that I managed to get direct supply work with a school, meaning full pay/no agency cut which keeps me busy 2-3 days a week as and when the school need me. I'm normally in the nursery, but as summer is coming up, more training courses means I can end up anywhere in the school.

Can I ask, where about in the country are you? I'm in Yorkshire myself, so my experience with agencies is limited to this era. Try out the TES forums as their is frequent discussion in the 'Teaching Assistant' and 'Supply Teacher' forum sections. Whilst I am aware you are a trained TA, most discussions about agencies take place in the 'Supply Teacher' forum.

kittycat204

Bevanuk: getting a CRB myself is not an option, the CRB process is another threads worth of rants and complaints. I like the idea of them paying and taking payment in the first pay check, it’s be in their interest to get me a job then.

Anamenottaken: They have asked that I bring some ID. They have asked that I bring a cheque for £46, telling me this is the cost and they don’t make a profit off that.

Patchi: Thanks, I suppose it’s logical that different branches are actually a different standard. I’m not with any agency, didn’t have any intention joining one yet. Don’t know enough about them, this has all just happened. Very interesting that it’s rare that agencies will accept portability on a CRB, he made out most would. Likely I would only have to pay for one once. I am in the east midlands. Thanks for reminding me about TES, I am registered with them but had forgotten about the forums. I will get on there today.


Thank you all of you for the help, much appreciated.

Rebecca01

I have had most of my supply work through teaching personnel. I did have to pay for my own CRB, I have with mkst agencies. I think you may be able to claim it back through tax though. I am not sure.