Form filling

I've been doing some prison visiting, and thus far have managed to avoid filling in the forms as I've always been with a Chaplain. Now, though, I've been asked to go through the security check. This runs to a rather impressive eight sets of forms. Form A is a Basic Check Verification Record (BCVR). Form B is a request for check against QAS form (whatever QAS might be). Form C is a request for check against QAS on counter signatory. From D is a criminal conviction check form. Form E is a criminal conviction declaration form. Forms F and G are vetting questionnaires and form H is a reference form. Having completed these, and had them certified by a manager of grade F or above, a "pre-appointment checklist for people not directly employed where an enhanced check is required" can be completed and the vetting process can begin. As they helpfully point out it is no longer possible to "fast track" applications. The whole process will probably take months to go through.

Similar things happen in parishes for CRB checks. I started a youth group in one parish, and managed to get a great team of young adult helpers. They were all working in jobs where they already had enhanced CRB checks, but the Diocese insists on doing its own checks in case there were police suspicions about them that weren't recorded on the CRB check. Before they'll even issue the forms, however, the Diocese has its own process. The volunteers had to fill in a lengthy form about why they wanted to help with the youth group, what talents they had to offer and why they would be suitable. They also had to provide the addresses of two referees and show various proofs of identity to the parish child protection co-ordinator. The paperwork went off to the Diocesan Child Protection Office (who are overworked and understaffed, naturally). They eventually followed up the references and approved the applications, issuing CRB forms to the parish co-ordinator. She then met with the volunteers again and checked more documents before sending the paperwork back to the Diocesan office who sent it off to CRB. The CRB check itself takes ages, particularly if they have problems with any of your details. One friend of mine had lived in Turkey and so got a phone call from CRB asking why his Turkish address didn't have a postcode. He explained that Turkey doesn't have postcodes. Unfortunately they weren't able to accept that over the phone, and asked him to write a letter to them explaining this.

For my volunteers, the process took between 6 and 10 months. Meanwhile, according to Diocesan Child Protection Procedures, they weren't allowed to help with the Youth Group. We need to have rigorous procedures in place to protect children, and I know that these procedures have worked in doing this, but I do think that we have gone too far. I know a number of people who have stopped helping out with catechesis of children and other activities because they felt insulted at having to fill in the Diocesan forms about why they would be suitable. In other cases I know really enthusiastic people who've wanted to start parish youth groups, but have failed because it's taken too long for the CRB checks to come through. Surely this is actually damaging to the children in our parishes, who are deprived of opportunities.