Criminal Record Bureau Checks

Volunteer Cornwall is an Umbrella Body (UB) registered with the Criminal Records Bureau and provides access checks for to non-registered organisations.

The Charge for a Volunteer CRB is currently £10 which covers administration. The Charge for a staff member is £44 plus £20 administration charge.

As an Umbrella Body Volunteer Cornwall is required to comply with the CRB’s Code of Practice and take reasonable steps to ensure that those to whom we are providing the CRB service are able to comply with the relevant obligations of the same code.

Code of Practice April 2009

An overview of the interaction between the Client, Volunteer Cornwall and CRB:

• Step 1. The CRB provides the application form to the Umbrella Body (UB).
• Step 2. The UB issues the application form to the UB client.
• Step 3. The UB client passes the application form to the applicant to complete.
• Step 4. The applicant completes the application form and provides ID documents to the UB client.
• Step 5. The UB client checks the application form, validates the ID and returns the application form to the UB.
• Step 6. The UB checks the application form, signs the application form and returns it to the CRB.
• Step 7. The CRB checks the application form. If the application form is incorrectly completed the CRB returns the application form to the UB. (Back to Step 6).
• Step 8. The CRB issues the Disclosure to the UB and the applicant.

At this point the CRB’s Code of Practice allows the Volunteer Cornwall to pass the disclosure to the person in the host organisation on whose behalf we are acting. Volunteer Cornwall will need to take into account the security aspects of transmission and delivery when sending Disclosure information to the organisation and its subsequent storage and handling.

• Step 9. The UB receives the Disclosure and sends it to the UB client.
• Step 10. The UB client receives the Disclosure and makes a decision on employment.

Step 10 means that the recruitment decision and responsibilities of that decision rests with the employing organisation and not Volunteer Cornwall, as the UB. In such circumstances, no liability should lie against Volunteer Cornwall if a claim were subsequently made on the basis that the employing organisation had acted unfairly against the applicant.

For further information contact Mary Baldwin on  01872 265304 or email MaryB@volunteercornwall.org.uk

For potential volunteers and host organisations in the sector, there is a new guide published called ‘Volunteering With a Criminal Record’ which you can access by clicking here