County Bursar Group

1
County Bursar Group

• Recruitment in Schools
• Ann Mannell
• Assistant Audit Manager
• Kent Audit

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Background to the Audit

• Education Directorate identified failure to
  obtain CRB checks as a high risk area
• 2004 Audit sampled 5 of schools in Kent
• Results of the Audit very surprising and
  disappointing

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Results of the Audit on CRB Checks
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Actions

• Education Directorate commissioned numerous
  actions
• Follow up Audit scope expanded to include
  Recruitment Procedures in Schools

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Recruitment in Schools2005

• Looked at Child protection issues as well as
  procedures to ensure safe recruitment
• Child protection had a high priority in all
  schools
• Safe recruitment procedures very poor!

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Recruitment in SchoolsResults

• Schools very aware of child protection issues
• CRB checks 24 of staff checked did not have an
  appropriate CRB check
• Recruitment procedures very poor 81 of staff
  checked were recruited with the absence of at
  least one check
• Education Directorate reacted very positively

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Actions taken

• Roll out of electronic on line CRB application
  system
• Chasing by SPS of all outstanding CRB checks
• SPS offered CV checking service to schools
• Headteacher briefings
• DfES guidance on safe recruitment on Clusterweb
  and

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Actions contd

• Promotion of DfES guidance and NCSL on-line
  training package on safe recruitment
• Peer reviews
• Compliance visits to include a check of
  recruitment procedures
• Another Audit!!

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Latest Recruitment Audit2006

• Audit based on DfES Safer Recruitment and
  Selection in Education Settings guidelines
  published in June 2005
• http//www.teachernet.gov.uk/_doc/8592/Recruit.pdf
  
• 12 schools visited selected to assess the impact
  of the on line application system for CRB checks
  and their recruitment procedures

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Audit checked

• Recruitment policy
• Confirmation of identity
• Qualifications confirmed
• Check of GTC registration (if appropriate)
• Two references on file
• Health check
• CRB disclosure and List 99
• NCSL on-line training

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Results

• Schools all aware of the importance of
  recruitment checks
• CRB checking improved (9 of staff without
  correct check)
• 58 staff checked were employed with at least
  one recruitment check missing
• NCSL training not undertaken by any
  headteachers or governors in our sample

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Recommendations to Schools

• Recruitment policy
• Check the identification of staff
• Qualifications/GTC check
• Obtain references
• Occupational Health check
• CRB checks
• NCSL Training

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What Now?

• Legal requirement for enhanced CRB checks for all
  school staff appointed since 12 May 2006
• CRB on line application system available to all
  schools by April 2007
• Schools reminded about the OFSTED Report on
  Record Keeping
• Personnel will be writing to Chairs of Governors
  asking them to support their headteachers and
  take more responsibility for safe recruitment
• Another Audit??

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• Thank you
• any Questions?