I have had a few people read my last thoughts who have asked me, "What on earth was the 'good Ideas' all about?" I responded with the observation that it was self-explanatory. This received the question, "Why should we be looking at good ideas?"
In an effort to be a little more helpful, let me explain a bit more.
The world I inhabit is full of 'good ideas'. My world, it seems, is crammed full with them and many rarely get off the ground and if and when they do the person who has the idea appears to assume that having had it, someone else will see it through or that it will just fly without any planning, thought or rational application. And of course, the biggest problem is that so many of these good ideas result in mayhem and more problems than they will ever solve. An example from the wider world (for this will not offend those closer to me whose 'good ideas' result in my pain!).
The CRB check (Criminal Records Bureau) became part of life in about 2002 as a result of the 1997 Police Act. The idea was to ensure that those who would be working with children, young people and vulnerable adults could be checked to remove the potential for litigation should an offence occur. I recall a meeting where I sat appalled by the fact that this was sold as a means to avoid being prosecuted for employing and ex-offender or someone who might later be proved to have been dodgy! There was I thinking it was about protecting the vulnerable!!!
Anyway, this soon became the gold standard and became the norm and whenever one was to be exposed to kids (in the nicest sense) in a new setting another form was required.
Back in 2003 I attended a meeting where we were told that the system would change to mean that once one had an enhanced CRB check in place others who needed to check on you would be able to see that you'd been checked and unless there was a specific need no further forms were needed. Grown-up, efficient and effective. You've been checked and nothing being found you could be trusted to work elsewhere - the end of a location, or even role, specific check. Halleljujah! Having within the last few days filled out three more of these forms, I guess this isn't working yet!!!!
There are a few interesting elements surrounding the CRB check that have the ability to make me sigh and shake my head a little. The first is that, like the MOT test, all it means is that on the day of being checked you were deemed to be O.K. - or to use the words of one of the experts, "It doesn't mean the person is safe, it just means that they haven't been caught yet!" Sadly, so may see this as a qualification rather than in this light and assume, having a check in place that there is no need to be vigilant because after all, "They're approved!"
The next interesting element is that having had the check done, the requesting body can decide to ignore whatever is on the form anyway. Of course, the organisation can (and as one that I know of does) boast that all the people within it are 'CRD Checked'. The material on the form can be discounted because the group perhaps decide that the person no longer forms a risk (in the case of child related offences) or that the information is not relevant (shoplifting, Taking and driving away or drugs-related and stuff that people do when they're young and stupid).
The last thing that winds me up is the fact that some people don't have checks done because they're on the periphery of an organisation or group. The reality is that for kids and vulnerable people, the fact that they've been seen somewhere and are therefore in a loose way 'known' even if it's just by recognition puts people in a privileged and therefore potentially dangerous (for the kids and vulnerable adults) position.
Following the tragic happenings in Soham, where school caretaker (Ian Huntly) murdered two young girls the powers that be have now decided to extend the checks to include parents who car pool or are involved with other children by virtue of being a parent of kids who have friends. One divot (sorry 'expert') appeared on the radio stating that they'd, "Love to come to the position where people were crb'd once they knew they had a baby on the way. Hopefully the day will come when all parents will be checked!"
The response to this was that the new measures would see up to 40,000 parents remove themselves from car pools and the like rather than be crb'd (after all, who wants the other parents to know of the marijuana bust or the shoplifting when you were a kid?) . Our illustrious divot replied that this was, "Exactly what the policies were intended to do - remove unsafe people from being allowed proximity to children!" Aaaaargh!
What we have here is a piece of good intention gone bonkers. I don't see this removing that many potentially dangerous people but I do see it encouraging the climate of fear and distrust that exists. I do see it meaning that my collection of 20+ crb certificates will continue to be added to. I do see it reducing the input of some parents because of something non-child threatening in their past.
Yipee - another form has arrived (apparently this organisation need one to be done every two years :-)). Perhaps the crb system will keep youngsters and vulnerable adults safe after all - anyone wishing to get near them will be kept to busy filling out forms to ever do any damage - I guess that means we'll have to leave the abuse to the unregulated amateurs.
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