Social services CRB/vetting

StrangelyBrown

Hi,

A while ago myself and my partner took her 7-year-old niece away on an overnight trip.

Her sister (i.e. niece's mum) isn't the most reliable or switched-on person and her family is known to Social Services for various reasons.
It has recently transpired that prior to the trip her sister provided the social worker with my details so they could run a 'police check' (CRB) on me, presumably as I would be jointly responsible for her daughter overnight.

Whilst I have no record with the police or anything else in my history that would preclude me from interacting with children, I never gave my permission for this to be done and feel a bit miffed that I wasn't told or asked in advance.

Can they do this? Do Social Services have some powers that trump the Data Protection Act?
Or has her sister somehow faked my permission when giving my details?! Of course, it was all clear but I'm surprised they can even obtain the data without informing me at some point.

rachbc

They need asbout 5 pieces of original ID to do a CRB check so its unlikley that one has been done without your knowledge or consent

StrangelyBrown

Thanks - is it possible that the "check" they allegedly did was not actually a CRB check, but some other background report?

StrangelyBrown

rachbc wrote: »

They need asbout 5 pieces of original ID

That seems like an awful lot of ID even if I was consenting - I can only think of 3! (Passport, driving licence, utility bill...)

elvis86

rachbc wrote: »

They need asbout 5 pieces of original ID to do a CRB check so its unlikley that one has been done without your knowledge or consent

I'm surprised to hear that. I needed one when I started my current job and I can't say as I recall providing 5 items of ID (as someone else said, I'm not sure that I could either!).

picnmix

Hi I do CRB checks at work for staff members, there are 3 types of id needed and the person themselves, for example if someone is off on maternity leave and their CRB checks comes up for renewal, they have to go to their nearest designated officer in person with the completed forms and id.

Who told you about this check?

StrangelyBrown

picnmix wrote: »

Who told you about this check?

Her sister - like I say, not the most reliable of sources!

But as I've never been involved in the world of social services I'd just like to get some facts before I call her out as a liar/fraud!

System

They possibly would have done internal checks to find out if you were 'known' to SS

StrangelyBrown

!!!!!! wrote: »

They possibly would have done internal checks to find out if you were 'known' to SS

That sounds more feasible to me. But hopefully there's a SS employee lurking who can say what checks can be made without the subject's knowledge or permission.

In these paranoid time where a man taking a 'vulnerable' young girl away for a treat gets treated as a potential sex offender until proven innocent, it dosn't surprise me that some checks would get done.

saidan

if your niece is known to social services and went away with you and your partner, they would have done a Social services check.
A CRB does require your permission and legal documents.

all they do is put your names in a computer and see if it comes up that you are known to social services.

whether you gave permission or not - social services have the authority to check out the adults that your niece is staying with - surely you must see that as a good thing?

Edited to add - this is not checking the sex offenders register - or anything to do with you being a potential !!!!!phile.
it is just about checking if your name comes up that you have needed social services intervention to care for a child.

PaulyB71

Probably more likely to be a List 99 check - very common in Local Authorities. No proof of ID required - but I would have thought that you should have been asked!!!