Warning Speen about to be vented.
This whole subject winds me right up.
I've been in some form of childrens work since I was 16 including youth clubs, nurseries, schools, hospital work, table tennis coaching cubs etc. Some of these were done as work experience at college and we had to have a police check done which was pretty much a forerunner to the CRB. There were only 3 blokes on our course and even back then we were specifically warned about how careful we had to be whatever we were doing.
I left college and cases of child abuse etc became more public and the CRB came into effect. I've been helping a local school with venture weeks etc for six years and for a few months started helping one day a week in the classroom so had to get another check done. THen i went for my warrant with Cubs and had to get another done. Why not just use the opriginal, "Oh no we're a different organisation" but the first one is with the LEA?
Last year the school needed to check the validity of the first check and they were told that they're pretty much void once they've been issued. So now I have to get another one to go away with them this year???!!! The whole thing gets on my nerves and just seems really pointless.
Last year I was in the Isle of Wight helping with a week away. We were due to go on a day out. Unfortunately there was a fairly big medical emergency. The pupil was ok but not fit to go with the rest of the group. There were only three of us and it was decided that as a non teacher I should stay behind and keep an eye on the pupil. It basically meant making sure they were ok and calling their nurse to keep her advised of the situation.
Obviously I would never do anything untoward but if they had turned round at the end of the day and made some form of accusation for any reason I would have been in the s**t. They didn't and I stress that this would never happen but my point is that that bit of paper has done nothing for either person in this situation. being checked does not make me immune to accusations, and neither does it keep her safe from some sick pervert.
If they want to put a system in place then make it worthwhile and actually mean something.
Right rant over my apologies.
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