Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) checks
Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) checks are a way that employers can ensure that the people they are employing do not have prior convictions, which might indicate that they are unsuitable to do a particular job.
If the Personal Assistants are to be caring for children or there are children in the house where they will be working then a CRB check is essential.
Even if the job does not involve working with children or there are not children in the house we still strongly recommend that a CRB check for your Personal Assistant to be carried out. The check will reveal whether or not the applicant has a criminal record and what the nature of any convictions are.
Whilst a CRB check does not in itself ensure that a person is a suitable employee, they are part of the pre-employment checks along with interviews, written references, and probationary periods that you can use to assist in selecting the best possible person for the job.
Potential employees should be informed at the time of application and again at interview that a CRB check might be necessary.
SILC can easily arrange the CRB checks for you and if you are receiving Direct Payments from them the cost is covered by Surrey County Council.
References
Checking the references an applicant has given is very important because it is the only way you can be sure that the information they have provided is correct. It is also valuable to have the opinion of another person who already knows the applicant and about their suitability or the job.
Contacting the Referees
Each applicant should have given the name and address of two people who are prepared to give him or her a reference to PA Finder or on their application form. The usual time to take up references is after you have interviewed because then you should know who you would prefer to offer the job too.
Requesting a Reference in Writing
Asking for a written reference is the best way of getting the most information. You can ask specific questions and also send a copy of the Job Description so you are sure that the referee (the person giving the reference) understands what the job involves. The drawbacks are that it may take longer for the referee to reply, so you may have to wait longer before the person can start if they are suitable.
Requesting a Reference by Telephone
Simply contacting the referee by telephone may seem like a quicker way of checking if someone is suitable. Referees may also be prepared to say things over the phone that they would not write down. On the other hand, a quick telephone call may not allow the referee to think about what the job involves. The best advice that can be given is to have the best of both worlds by requesting a reference by letter and then following it up with a telephone call.
Preventing illegal working
The law requires all employers in the United Kingdom to make basic document checks on every person they intend to employ.
By making these checks, employers can be sure they will not break the law by employing illegal workers.
It is important to remember that the population of the United Kingdom is ethnically diverse. Most people from ethnic minorities are British citizens and most non-British citizens from the ethnic minorities are entitled to work here.
In order to find out what documents you need to ask your employee for you should ring the Employers’ Helpline on 0845 010 6677.
If you have internet access and want to get the information yourself it is available from the UK Border Agency.
Don’t forget you must ask all your Personal Assistants that you employ for the same information and keep copies with their contract.