CRB - To be or not to be?

[NXDisco]

Ok.

I was speaking to a lovely lady on the phone on Friday evening. She wanted me to do her Wedding Entertainment in August (the last one let her down).

So I explained everything about who I am etc and quoted her a decent price.

She was just about to book and then asked if I was CRB checked with HER local authority which is around 40miles away.

I explained that I wasn't and asked why it was necessary as it was a wedding and not a kids party.. She explained that there were going to be around 10 young children around in the evening and that she didn't want any old bloke doing the entertainment.

After this - she just said "Well I won't bother with you then" and put the phone down on me! :mad:

So the question is - In this day and age... should we all be CRB checked??

[Cowlinn]

That sounds very strange! Unless you do a lot of kids parties, I don't think it's necessary, or justified.

[NXDisco]

What makes me more angry is that I spent 20mins of MY time on the phone to her using MY phone.. Surely if having a CRB was essential then wouldn't that be the first thing you would ask the DJ?

[DJ Paulie]

As far as I know it isn't such a legal requirement here, but when I worked for a care company I was Garda checked, so use that as a selling point for kids parties. Funny though never been asked for it. Another thing is I've had PLI, been a registered company and have all the things clients ask for in the UK and not once have been asked to show them !

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

As far as I know it isn't such a legal requirement here, but when I worked for a care company I was Garda checked, so use that as a selling point for kids parties. Funny though never been asked for it. Another thing is I've had PLI, been a registered company and have all the things clients ask for in the UK and not once have been asked to show them !

But that's not the reason for having it though is it?

[DJ Paulie]

But that's not the reason for having it though is it?

What is then ?

[Corabar Steve]

Ok.

I was speaking to a lovely lady on the phone on Friday evening. She wanted me to do her Wedding Entertainment in August (the last one let her down).

So I explained everything about who I am etc and quoted her a decent price.

She was just about to book and then asked if I was CRB checked with HER local authority which is around 40miles away.

I explained that I wasn't and asked why it was necessary as it was a wedding and not a kids party.. She explained that there were going to be around 10 young children around in the evening and that she didn't want any old bloke doing the entertainment.

After this - she just said "Well I won't bother with you then" and put the phone down on me! :mad:

So the question is - In this day and age... should we all be CRB checked??
Never mind whether or not we should be checked, I'm wondering what she was planning on doing that you were going to be the only adult in the room at a wedding

[DazzyD]

As far as I know it isn't such a legal requirement here, but when I worked for a care company I was Garda checked, so use that as a selling point for kids parties. Funny though never been asked for it. Another thing is I've had PLI, been a registered company and have all the things clients ask for in the UK and not once have been asked to show them !

I always thought that CRB checks were only meant to be used for the purpose for which the check was carried out and they aren't transferrable? Was I wrong to believe that? :confused:


Never mind whether or not we should be checked, I'm wondering what she was planning on doing that you were going to be the only adult in the room at a wedding

She obviously wanted a babysitter/DJ in her ideal world!

[DJ Paulie]

I always thought that CRB checks were only meant to be used for the purpose for which the check was carried out and they aren't transferrable? Was I wrong to believe that? :confused:


Again as far as I know once you have had the equivelient of a CRB here in Ireland, it can be used for other employers. It checks you don't have a criminal record or any outstanding fines, so not quite as detailed as a CRB I would imagine ?

[Booche]

What is then ?

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

I'd use the search facility before this thread gets snowed under with replys into WHY you should have it

BUT

One reason i see the most important as to WHY:-

1: It covers your back for any accidents that may happen.

Anyway back on topic

I to wonder what the client was planning on doing at a wedding to say that she wouldn't book you with out being CRB checked, this is a area im looking into myself, although i don't do kid's parties anymore i would still like to say YES if a client asked :D

[DJ Jules]

I've been CRB checked in the past (back in the Bouncy castle days where I had a LOT of contact with children in a supervisory role it was an important selling point), but that has now expired and I haven't bothered to renew it as I've never been asked for it (despite having provided discos for four of the local primary/infant/junior schools over the last 3yrs).

The whole thing going on with the CRB system at the end of Labour's term has muddied the water around the requirements for CRB and other checks - I'm just glad that the proposals were disbanded as the proposed scheme was completely unmanageable.

I really don't see why it's necessary for a wedding specifically. However, I can understand if the client is using the CRB check as a kind of "character check" to see if the DJ is suitable or not based on a set of very dubious stereotypes involving criminal types and DJ's. I'd have thought a face to face pre-event meeting would have given her more to go on though?

Or, to put this another way, I've met a lot of DJ's from around here, and while a lot of them can no doubt entertain, there's some I wouldn't want to do a kids party (or my wedding) based on either their appearance, attitude, police record or all three of the above :D

And then there's some who are clean as a whistle and I still wouldn't employ as they don't have a clue :D

Julian

[Dynamic Entertainment]

You have absoloutly no nead to be CRB checked what so ever...unless you were going to be left in a room on your own with the children (as Steve was hinting at).

In a nutshell, Enhanced Disclosure is for working one on one with vulnerable people, and standard disclosure is for group based work usually where your the only adult present.

I know that Cumbria's Road safety unit, and the British Horse Society were actually going down the route of self disclosure where you sign to say your a decent bloke yourself...surely because they wouldnt ever be in a one to one situation, so a full CRB was an unneccesary oncost.

With regards to transferablilty...its up to the individual organisation as to thether they request their own, or accept someone elses.

Theres plenty in the relevent section on the forum about both CRB and ISA and also a little bit about VBS (which has been halted)...

[WWDJ]

For childrens entertainment and kids parties, CRB makes sense to have from a business point of view, although even then should not be 100% necessary, as children shouldn't be left alone with a comparitive stranger anyhow.

For your average wedding or birthday party, not necessary.

[Dynamic Entertainment]

For childrens entertainment and kids parties, CRB makes sense to have from a business point of view, although even then should not be 100% necessary, as children shouldn't be left alone with a comparitive stranger anyhow.

For your average wedding or birthday party, not necessary.

Why.... They souldnt be necessary at all.

I do a hell of a lot of school discos (infant, junior and secondary) and I actually brought the subject up recently because my previous CRB with Cumbria County Council is now more than 3 years old...I wanted to check if any schools would require me to get a fresh one with an umbrella company (just to be on the safe side)...each school said no...on the grounds that im not working alone with the kids. Now these are governed by OFSTEAD who are :Censored: hot right now on CRB and if the schools realise that theres no need for one doing this job...well... ;)

This is the whole reason that CRB and ISA were brought together...to combat the scaremongering and knee jerk reaction from the public which would see people and organisations applying which needent.

[WWDJ]

Why.... They souldnt be necessary at all.

I do a hell of a lot of school discos (infant, junior and secondary) and I actually brought the subject up recently because my previous CRB with Cumbria County Council is now more than 3 years old...I wanted to check if any schools would require me to get a fresh one with an umbrella company (just to be on the safe side)...each school said no...on the grounds that im not working alone with the kids. Now these are governed by OFSTEAD who are :Censored: hot right now on CRB and if the schools realise that theres no need for one doing this job...well... ;)

This is the whole reason that CRB and ISA were brought together...to combat the scaremongering and knee jerk reaction from the public which would see people and organisations applying which needent.

I completely agree. Due to the scaremongering though, it probably makes sense from a business point of view to be CRB if you are specifically a kids entertainer or childrens disco specialists rather than having to justify why it is not needed and losing business that way?

[Dynamic Entertainment]

I completely agree. Due to the scaremongering though, it probably makes sense from a business point of view to be CRB if you are specifically a kids entertainer or childrens disco specialists rather than having to justify why it is not needed and losing business that way?

The last thing i had through before leaving my my previous job (i was the main point of contact for CRB clearenced withing Cumbrias Road Safety Unit) was the hint of people/organisations being refused CRB checks on the basis of them not being needed. If that does go through then how do you explain to the over zelous client that youve been "refused" a CRB ;) :p

[spin mobile disco]

I agree with Dynamic. I was told by 2 of the schools I do work for that it was only required if you are left in sole charge of children or vulnerable adults. I am actually crb checked by one of the special schools I do regular work for. But it is not a requirment for normal discos.

Crb checking is not area specific as it discloses any criminal activity on the police database not the local authority. If you are checked for one area you should be covered for all areas albeit in the Uk.

[mattydinx]

it was only required if you are left in sole charge of children or vulnerable adults

+1

This is the way I understood it too. Since it's a wedding I highly doubt you'll be in that position. If you've still got her number i'd be tempted to ring her back and inform her of the facts (in a nice way of course)

You may still score for the booking.

[CRAZY K]

Ok.

I was speaking to a lovely lady on the phone on Friday evening. She wanted me to do her Wedding Entertainment in August (the last one let her down).

So I explained everything about who I am etc and quoted her a decent price.

She was just about to book and then asked if I was CRB checked with HER local authority which is around 40miles away.

I explained that I wasn't and asked why it was necessary as it was a wedding and not a kids party.. She explained that there were going to be around 10 young children around in the evening and that she didn't want any old bloke doing the entertainment.

After this - she just said "Well I won't bother with you then" and put the phone down on me! :mad:

So the question is - In this day and age... should we all be CRB checked??

No and you cant get blanket CRB to cover your activities far as I know.

Your lovely lady sounds a bit ignorant.:eek:

Obviously ignorant of the CRB rules--unless you are in the room on your own with no other adults present----which is unlikely and undesirable--you dont need it.

Spot on comment from Steve;)

No its not useable in different locations--at present you only get CRB for one particular purpose/employer--although I heard they may be bringing in new rules---so any existing CRB would be of no use to the specific Wedding--further ignorance.:eek:

It might show you WERE CRB checked but like a MOT or PAT it is ONLY at the time of checking.

You can apply for restricted checks on your criminal record by applying to the Police and paying a fee-but its not the full Monty.

I would take exception to the expression---any old bloke--sexist and ageist

:Censored: :Censored: :Censored: :Censored:

[mikeee]

No and you cant get blanket CRB to cover your activities far as I know.

Your lovely lady sounds a bit ignorant.:eek:

Obviously ignorant of the CRB rules--unless you are in the room on your own with no other adults present----which is unlikely and undesirable--you dont need it.

Spot on comment from Steve;)

No its not useable in different locations--at present you only get CRB for one particular purpose/employer--although I heard they may be bringing in new rules---so any existing CRB would be of no use to the specific Wedding--further ignorance.:eek:

It might show you WERE CRB checked but like a MOT or PAT it is ONLY at the time of checking.

You can apply for restricted checks on your criminal record by applying to the Police and paying a fee-but its not the full Monty.

I would take exception to the expression---any old bloke--sexist and ageist

:Censored: :Censored: :Censored: :Censored:

Really need a like button at the bottom of posts :)
You can not CRB yourself, it is the person that is employing you that needs to get it done, nor is a CRB transferable, so client A gets the CRB done, and it is cover for them alone, so client B, C, D etc would have to have it done again for themselves.
It's obvious that this woman has been "fed a line" somewhere, probably another "disco", and now she is fanning around with a little bit information, thats not even required.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

nor is a CRB transferable

That is debatable and depends on who wants it and for what reason.

[CRAZY K]

That is debatable and depends on who wants it and for what reason.

Whilst bowing to your superior knowledge on the subject--I cant see this particular scenario i.e. Wedding--- could have a transfer.

If it was School to School or Scouts to Playgroup it makes some sense--but not a Wedding:confused:

I go with Mikee--misinformed ageist, sexist customer causing mayhem.:daft:

[mikeee]

That is debatable and depends on who wants it and for what reason.

In the invididual situation, the person employing has to apply for the CRB, so that would be a new CRB for each and every event, as it would be a different employer.
Another way is, as agents you and I can pay to have an "employee" (DJ) checked, that would be valid for all functions that the DJ did for us, but the DJ can not use it for his own private work as the employer would be different.
The quick solution if anyone is really worried is to pop down the local police station, give the desk sgt a tenner and ask for a police check, supply the same paperwork as a CRB, and one to two later, get a nice letter from Mr Plod, saying what a nice honest chap you are.

And as mentioned elsewhere, as a DJ / Entertainer, you don't actually need it as you are not alone with the little darlings (well you shouldn't be).

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

In the invididual situation, the person employing has to apply for the CRB, so that would be a new CRB for each and every event, as it would be a different employer.


In the individual situation, but certain bodies, people and LEA's will take a CRB that has been done by someone else.

[Daryll]

I have an Enhanced Discloser , issues by West Sussex county council , mainly in my line of work , I can be subject to a one on one with vulnerable adults , however I do the odd school disco , as the Enhanced Discloser was issued ion west Sussex , I have never had a problem , even though it is now 5 years old , I usually hand it over with PAT and PIL as a matter of course.

Daryll