Police vetting

I help out with the kids' table tennis club at our village hall. I was asked the other day whether we had to be vetted by the police in order to do this. Since no one has actually thought about it before now, we haven't looked into it.
Should we be checked out in order to do this, and are we going to be in Big Trouble for not having done it?

sally_in_wales

Its one of those odd areas, havinga current CRB check shows willing and reassures people that you are happy to be checked out, but in all honesty they only demonstrate that on the day the check was made you werent known to the police for anything naughty.

I reckon you are better to have a decent and comprehensive Child Protection Policy and make sure people know you review it regularly. A CRB isnt a bad thing to have but don't fret about it

judith

sally_in_wales wrote:

I reckon you are better to have a decent and comprehensive Child Protection Policy and make sure people know you review it regularly. A CRB isnt a bad thing to have but don't fret about it

Thanks Sally. It is something we do need to think about. Any idea where to look for guidance about drawing up a Child Protection Policy?

Jamanda

There is a national PTA site. I haven't got my log in details here, but I'll look when I get home. They are quite good on that sort of thing.

judith

Thanks Jamanda, that would be really helpful.

Jonnyboy

Re: Police vetting

judith wrote:

Jennie helps out with brownies occaisionally. She had to be vetted.

judith

In some ways, it seems daft having to do this, as in a village of this size, everyone really does know everyone else, but I dread to think of the liability issues if anything were to happen.

dpack

better as safe as possible in any way possible .no system is perfect and paranoia is unhelpful but the alternative is unprofessional risks that could have been avoided

alisjs

Cos I'm self employed I've got lots of different jobs.....and 3 disclosures! Employers seem to want their own checks running, even though I've already been checked over and over....
And as Sally said, it's only really up to date and meaningful on the day the check was done...... Still, better than no checks at all I s'pose

judith

Too true.

sally_in_wales

judith wrote:

sally_in_wales wrote:

I reckon you are better to have a decent and comprehensive Child Protection Policy and make sure people know you review it regularly. A CRB isnt a bad thing to have but don't fret about it

Thanks Sally. It is something we do need to think about. Any idea where to look for guidance about drawing up a Child Protection Policy?

I can show you a copy of one I modified from a work one for a society I'm in, bear with me whilst I find it!

judith

That's brilliant Sally, thanks.
(If I don't reply, it means NL has turned up!)

Mary-Jane

You might find this helpful Judith... http://www.crb.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=381

RichardW

I would say that if you have a Child Protection Policy then drawing that up will highlight the "risks" that "may" be present by having someone look after children without any background checks being done (no school or club would allow it). What these checks involve "could" be up to the group to decide but the group would be liable for any problems.

What age ranges do you look after?
Is there ever one child with one adult?
Will you need to supervise / help with "personal bodily functions"?
What gender will the carers / children be?
Do you have a core group of helpers so that one of them can always be present to supervise the other helpers so reducing the number / cost of CRB's needed?
Do you have a "safe caring" policy?
(this helps to minimise the risk to the carers against false alegations)

Justme

judith

What age ranges do you look after? - Roughly 9 - 14
Is there ever one child with one adult? - Not really. Can't say it hasn't ever happened, but it is unlikely.
Will you need to supervise / help with "personal bodily functions"? - No
What gender will the carers / children be? Adults are usually 2 women, 1 man, and the kids are about half and half.
Do you have a core group of helpers so that one of them can always be present to supervise the other helpers so reducing the number / cost of CRB's needed? - It's mainly the three adults above. We get the odd parent helping now and again too.
Do you have a "safe caring" policy? (this helps to minimise the risk to the carers against false alegations) - No. Another thing to look into, I guess.

judith

Mary-Jane wrote:

You might find this helpful Judith... http://www.crb.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=381

Thanks.

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