Management Information Sheet
CRB Clearance for Norfolk Children's Services Employees
Norfolk Children's Services would like to provide you with assurance of the policy and standards in relation to staff Criminal Record Bureau checks.
In recent weeks, Norfolk Children's Services staff have received a number of requests from schools across the county requesting evidence of CRB checks. We understand your need for your assurance regarding this issue and are therefore issuing this MI sheet as a formal written confirmation from the organisation that appropriate checks, including CRB checks have been carried out in order to prevent the need for the organisation having to respond to numerous individual requests.
We can confirm that the organisation ensures that CRB checks are carried out for all staff whose posts are deemed to meet the criteria of an enhanced check. In accordance with safer staffing guidance, all new starters and all existing staff employed by the organisation who are employed with a post that meets the criteria of an enhanced CRB check will have a CRB check carried out by the organisation. Where our staff are required to work in school we can therefore confirm that enhanced checks are carried out for these posts.
The Ofsted guidance as stated below clarifies the procedures schools should adopt when Norfolk Children's Services Staff visit their school:
'Checking visiting staff: Visiting staff who do not have unsupervised regular access to children and young people - such as initial teacher education mentors and tutors - are not eligible for a CRB check. The normal risk assessment that applies to all visitors is sufficient. Visiting staff who do have unsupervised regular access to children and young people - such as educational psychologists, social workers, supply teachers, trainee teachers, nurses, sports coaches, MOD personnel and inspectors - should be CRB checked by their 'providing' organisation: the supply agency, the university, primary care trust, local authority and so on. It is sufficient, for schools and colleges to seek written confirmation that appropriate checks, including CRB checks have been carried out and by whom - most commonly the relevant human resources department (it is not necessary to specify a named individual) - and to confirm the identify of these visitors. It is not necessary (or practicable) to require a date for such checks unless the providing organisation supplies a list of named individual supply staff. Written confirmation may be in the form of a public statement on the agency website, as is the case with Ofsted.'
In line with the Ofsted guidance and the confirmations contained within this MI Sheet, schools should expect Norfolk Children's Services staff to show their identity on entry to the site with identity badges. At the same time they would expect to sign in and out of the provision and to be identified as visitors during their time in the school. Schools should not request sight of individual's CRB Disclosures.
In recent weeks, Norfolk Children's Services staff have received a number of requests from schools across the county requesting evidence of CRB checks. We understand your need for your assurance regarding this issue and are therefore issuing this MI sheet as a formal written confirmation from the organisation that appropriate checks, including CRB checks have been carried out in order to prevent the need for the organisation having to respond to numerous individual requests.
We can confirm that the organisation ensures that CRB checks are carried out for all staff whose posts are deemed to meet the criteria of an enhanced check. In accordance with safer staffing guidance, all new starters and all existing staff employed by the organisation who are employed with a post that meets the criteria of an enhanced CRB check will have a CRB check carried out by the organisation. Where our staff are required to work in school we can therefore confirm that enhanced checks are carried out for these posts.
The Ofsted guidance as stated below clarifies the procedures schools should adopt when Norfolk Children's Services Staff visit their school:
'Checking visiting staff: Visiting staff who do not have unsupervised regular access to children and young people - such as initial teacher education mentors and tutors - are not eligible for a CRB check. The normal risk assessment that applies to all visitors is sufficient. Visiting staff who do have unsupervised regular access to children and young people - such as educational psychologists, social workers, supply teachers, trainee teachers, nurses, sports coaches, MOD personnel and inspectors - should be CRB checked by their 'providing' organisation: the supply agency, the university, primary care trust, local authority and so on. It is sufficient, for schools and colleges to seek written confirmation that appropriate checks, including CRB checks have been carried out and by whom - most commonly the relevant human resources department (it is not necessary to specify a named individual) - and to confirm the identify of these visitors. It is not necessary (or practicable) to require a date for such checks unless the providing organisation supplies a list of named individual supply staff. Written confirmation may be in the form of a public statement on the agency website, as is the case with Ofsted.'
In line with the Ofsted guidance and the confirmations contained within this MI Sheet, schools should expect Norfolk Children's Services staff to show their identity on entry to the site with identity badges. At the same time they would expect to sign in and out of the provision and to be identified as visitors during their time in the school. Schools should not request sight of individual's CRB Disclosures.