Non CRB checked volunteers

posted by wendy mcgauley on Mon, 13/09/2010 - 3:15pm

Hi

Does anyone have experience of know or know of any org's that have chosen not to CRB check

all volunteers?  About to do this so would really appreciate any feedback.  Thanks in advance

Wendy McGauley

Forums: 
Recruitment and marketing
  • 1793 reads

On Wed, 29/09/2010 - 10:05am

Lots of organisations don't CRB check all volunteers.  Charities and others that do not deal to any significant extent with children and vulnerable adults should not CRB their volunteers and the CRB / ISA people fully support this.  They do not want to spend time with vulnerable people the checks are a waste of time and money and an unwarranted intrusion into the volunteer's personal life.

You may CRB people for other reasons, such as for volunteers who are taking on financial responsibilities, but the point to be considered is: Is there a need for a check?  Some organisations CRB check everyone and do nothing else, which doesn't seem such a good idea.  As volunteer managers, there are many other ways we can use for selecting suitable people and supporting and monitoring them.  Interviews, references and trial periods are common examples.  I would suggest we look to the range of tools available and select the ones that will get the job done, rather than expecting criminal records checks to do the job for us.

Just my view of course and, hopefully, you will get others to balance my thoughts!

Best regards

Steve

By Steve Gee --

Steve Gee

Volunteer Development Manager

Cancer Research UK

On Wed, 11/07/2012 - 3:38pm
This is obviously an OLD thread, but in case anyone is thinking about this now, I thought I should add something to the last comment. I am a CRB countersignatory and have been on countersignatory training with CRB, who led me to believe that we CANNOT CRB someone for reasons like them handling finace and that to do so would not only contravene their rules, but would be unlawful. My understanding is that someone can only be checked if they are working directly with children or vulnerable adults on an advice/support giving role (and not through incidental contact). I personally don't CRB anyone in admin-type positions and as a volunteer coordinator I cannot be CRB'd myself as I don't deal with any of my charity's service users. I agree with all that Steve has said about using effective recruitment as the best method to select trust-worthy volunteers, so I hope my colleagues out there are keeping this in mind and not mindlessly CRBing every successful volunteer applicant. Am I wrong about this?
By Carrera Leigh Spence