Updated info on DBS checks from Ofsted

[Rea]

I havent read it yet but hopefully its worth knowing http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/disclosure-and-barring-service-dbs-checks-for-childcare-providers-who-register-ofsted

[Masha]

Very interesting, thank you Rea

[Littlesparklesnursery]

Thanks Rea

[Stargrower]

Wow! So basically DBS checks are only portable in that they allow a person to start work, then we have to do new checks...

It's a minefield!

[sunnyday]

Thanks for adding Rea :1b

Will read when/if I ever emerge from the continual paperwork :blink:

Yes, yes I know I would get a lot more done if I spent less time on here - but it's all that keeps me sane

[Fredbear]

Thank you Rea for sharing.

[Stargrower]

 

Yes, yes I know I would get a lot more done if I spent less time on here - but it's all that keeps me sane

I'm always sneaking on when I should be wading through my 'to do' llist! Don't know if it keeps me sane or makes me even less sane than I am already, but I wouldn't be without you all.

[Cait]

Thanks, that answers some questions!

[louby loo]

In all honesty if it wasn't for this forum - how would we all keep up to date with things!!

 

Sometimes I feel we are hit with overload ...... Luckily due to the good people on here we can keep each other informed :-)

 

Thank you Rea, and thank you EVERBODY who shares infor on here. :-) :-) :-) xx

[Fredbear]

This has always been my argument too. That there should be a centralised system to inform us of all the most current changes.

Without our forum buddies I'm not sure we would know half of what has changed.

Thanks FBS.

[Mouseketeer]

Exactly Fredbear.....or what we should be adding to our 'to do' lists

[Guest]

Has anyone yet had to refer a member of staff to the DBS? I am facing the first one of those now and the form is epic..

[Rea]

Has anyone yet had to refer a member of staff to the DBS? I am facing the first one of those now and the form is epic..

Our new manager has just done one, i'm waiting for the email so I can do the endorsing bits.

[Guest]

Mh that will probably take the longest. Putting in the details is fine, but just copying all the evidence will be epic..

[Guest sn0wdr0p]

OK I am confused about this. I thought that the point in the DBS was that if the applicant had remained registered with the DBS we could do an online check but the guidance appears to say that we have to do a new one. Am I misunderstanding this?

Thanks Rea Looks like another late night unravelling the mysteries of Ofsted guidance.

Edited September 24, 2014 by sn0wdr0p

[Guest]

Mh well we use the update service now. So when a new member of staff starts that has signed up with the update service I use this to check if they information is still current. If anything gets flagged I will ask them for details and apply for a new one.

[Wookie]

Thanks for this.

As a new manager I find The forums invaluable. So now for the question, having read this, I have just got the owners to redo all DBS checks as way out of date so should they have signed everyone up to the update service at the same time? I'm not sure if they did - thinking not so justo anted to check I've got it right before approaching it - especially as they have given me responsibility of registered person.

 

Thanks in advance

[Mouseketeer]

Hi Wookie, welcome to the forum and good luck in you managers role, there is no requirement to redo checks, but if you've got the owners to cough up all well and good, I had new staff a few months ago and they had to do their own (capita), we refunded them the £52 but they had to pay for the update service themselves, but from other threads recently it looks like 'not to' isn't an option anymore.

[Cait]

Yes it ceased to be an option from September. You can do it when you get your certificate, I think it's something like 19 days from receipt.

[thumperrabbit]

Yes it ceased to be an option from September. You can do it when you get your certificate, I think it's something like 19 days from receipt.

Do you know if committee have to be signed upto update service too?

[Fredbear]

Well if they do, it's just another way to make money.

Our committee could in essence stay just one year or for up to six consecutive years, that's a lot of money to find.

Will have to look into this as our AGM is in a few weeks time and we start the whole DBS system again, I can't wait (not).

[Mouseketeer]

Ofsted told me not, and a couple have submitted dbs this week and didn't have too, only paid 8.10

Edited October 25, 2014 by Mouseketeer

[lynned55]

Yes they do have to- it says on their website - but for volunteers the update service is free.

However one of our committee who last week got her DBS, duly signed up and registered for the update service. She then was asked to do another one for a school she helps out in and was told none of what she had was any good for them and she would have to get another DBS. I'm beginning to think this whole thing is ludicrous. I thought the whole point of the DBS was to so we would have a central base to check on people. It's ridiculous that someone who has just had an enhanced check done one week has to get another one done the following week for someone else.

Edited October 26, 2014 by lynned55

[Buttercup]

lynned55 I am reading the same as you. It seems that in order for you to be able to use your DBS for different places Ofsted say it must be a like for like setting e.g. nursery to nursery. helping at brownies would be different.

Am I reading this right if so then its a waste of time being flexible.

Also confused over students it says ofsted will obtain DBS?

buttercup

[Cait]

Is it because it is specifically for an age range? I've preschool to 4 years and Brownies are 7-11. I thought DBS was meant to do away with that - the registration number and update thing was so that a new employer could contact the service to check. I've misunderstood it all too then!!!

[woodlands1997]

I know Ofsted will only accept a dbs with the update service if it is 'childrens workforce' so as said eg nursery to nursery. I didn't realise this so they aren't really portable at all, it's madness. Other places may be different but I'm not sure!

[Buttercup]

That sounds like a waste of time then for people to pay for them to be portable

buttercup

[Wildflowers]

I assumed it was fine to just check an applicant's DBS check on-line, but more is required: (extract)

Inspectors will check that the employer has:

• noticed any unexplained gaps in a person’s employment and if this is the case, that they have not let the person start work until they have their own DBS check. (Employers should not use an existing DBS check if there has been a break of more than three months in service.)

• checked the details on the existing DBS check using forms of identity for the person concerned, for example, they have cross-referenced address and date of birth details from other identity documents

• seen the original DBS certificate, not a photocopy, and tried to contact the person who requested the original check, to confirm if any other information was released through a separate letter. (If other information was released, the employer must not let the person start work until they have a new DBS check.)

• not accepted an existing DBS check that is too old. (A DBS check does not last for an agreed length of time, but it is best to expect that an existing check is no older than 12 months.)

If the employer cannot show that they have taken these steps, then the inspector will reflect this in the inspection judgement(s).

Edited October 29, 2014 by Wildflowers

[Wildflowers]

What's the point of the update service if the original check shouldn't be older than 12 months?

Would you recheck a former employee who is not on update service who returns after studies or maternity leave?

[Cait]

Looking at that list, I think you are meant to

 

Edit - although 'unexplained gaps' might let you out!

Edited October 29, 2014 by Cait