Can somebody please explain to me how a CRB check is any guarantee of safety?
I’ve read the article in last week’s Community Care magazine about Social workers wanting all carers/PA’s to have mandatory CRB checks. Why do Social workers find them so vital and necessary? Can somebody please explain to me how a CRB check is any guarantee of safety? The questions on the CRB form rely on the person answering them to be honest. Last time I looked this was not a recognised strength of someone intent on harm or wishing to hide something! The checking of the details supplied against police records and the lists of those unsuitable to work with children or vulnerable adults sounds great until you read further and realise that the CRB is not responsible for the accuracy of these records. Currently only England, Wales, parts of Scotland and nothing from Northern Ireland is included in that search and that the person who has applied for the check is also responsible for reporting any inaccuracies on the document! Fox in charge of the hen-house springs to mind! Anyone who has ever read the back of one of these disclosure forms could easily be forgiven for wondering why we have them! All that they seem to do is part you from £36 and give honest people the opportunity to practise their honesty. Let’s not over emphasize the danger, the vast majority of people who work with our children day in day out, are good honest folk doing a great job.
There really is no better safeguard for your child than getting to know who is caring for them. Most people with an individual budget are not going to be employing that many staff that this is going to be difficult to do. Spend time with Carers, watch them with your child, watch your child’s reactions to them, be sensibly vigilant and aware. I do not see the point in making CRB checks mandatory when they are no guarantee of anything and should never replace the duty of care we owe our children.
On 3rd November, 2008 sarah wood said...
indeed! i agree with Maggie whole heartedly.
the way i see it, is this, protect our loved ones by whatever means BUT not in a way that excludes them.
when our kids have no "additional needs" we do not insist on a CRB check each time they attend a sleep over or go to a mates house for tea.
lets use our individual budgets to enhance and increase opportunities NOT to re create an institution in our own home.
and those of us who listened and studied hard will remember...... a person centred risk assesment is always possible!
On 13th May, 2009 ArianaBymn said...
hi, thanks,The article was very well written, very helpful to me
On 30th July, 2009 Katie Thorpe said...
I think CRB checks are a really good way of bolstering reference checks. Having worked as a professional in the recruitment of social care staff for many years requiring a CRB check is your first line of defence - potential staff often just disappear if they know they will have convictions that will make them unsuitable. I have also seen returns with theft, violence, drink driving and drugs offences which has allowed us to stop employing people.
It is all well and good if you are the parent of a child and around all the time to see what is going on - but what about, as in my case, an adult sister who lives alone and has one to one support. If I could get CRB checks done I would - how else do I know if someone has convictions for theft, violence, drugs.
It's not the only or best way of asessing the suitability of a member of staff but it is an extra safeguard. I have never known a CRB check to include the wrong information. The only big downside I can see is that they cannot check criminal records from overseas - and of course the cost!.
My sister wanted to volunteer at the local older persons residential home and they said not unless she had a CRB check done. Volunteering in school is problematic without a CRB check. She is clearly a vulnerable, disabled person herself but is seen as a threat to others!
So my issue is why won't the CRB service allow me, as a family employer to get checks done to protect her?