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| Appeal to schools on crime checks | Appeal to schools on crime checks |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| All local councils in Wales will be asked to ensure that everyone working with children has been checked by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). | All local councils in Wales will be asked to ensure that everyone working with children has been checked by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). |
| The Welsh Local Government Association will act after it emerged up to 80 Powys school staff were not cleared. | The Welsh Local Government Association will act after it emerged up to 80 Powys school staff were not cleared. |
| Everyone in contact with children in schools or colleges should be screened. | Everyone in contact with children in schools or colleges should be screened. |
| Welsh education minister Jane Davidson said she was "shocked" after Powys Council had found "weaknesses" in procedures. | Welsh education minister Jane Davidson said she was "shocked" after Powys Council had found "weaknesses" in procedures. |
| The council insisted staff still not screened for convictions involving children would not work unsupervised. | The council insisted staff still not screened for convictions involving children would not work unsupervised. |
| It has also drafted in staff to help investigate. | It has also drafted in staff to help investigate. |
| What have they done in course of a year to change things? Helen Mary Jones, Plaid Cymru AM | What have they done in course of a year to change things? Helen Mary Jones, Plaid Cymru AM |
| Education Minister Jane Davidson said she was "shocked" by a situation which was "not acceptable" and reminded councils and schools of their obligations. | Education Minister Jane Davidson said she was "shocked" by a situation which was "not acceptable" and reminded councils and schools of their obligations. |
| Liberal Democrat AM Peter Black said an Esytn report published in May 2006 had identified that schools and local education authorities were not following the correct procedures in insisting on CRB checks for non-teaching staff. | Liberal Democrat AM Peter Black said an Esytn report published in May 2006 had identified that schools and local education authorities were not following the correct procedures in insisting on CRB checks for non-teaching staff. |
| In a survey of 28 schools spread across all 22 Welsh education authorities, only 11 confirmed that they vet all adults who have access to children. | In a survey of 28 schools spread across all 22 Welsh education authorities, only 11 confirmed that they vet all adults who have access to children. |
| Most of the remaining schools reported that visitors, including parent-helpers, were not left on their own with children. | Most of the remaining schools reported that visitors, including parent-helpers, were not left on their own with children. |
| However, schools where outside contractors provided catering and cleaning services were found to be uncertain as to whether the staff concerned had CRB clearance or not. | However, schools where outside contractors provided catering and cleaning services were found to be uncertain as to whether the staff concerned had CRB clearance or not. |
| 'Complacency' | |
| Mr Black said: "I am shocked that nine months after a report of this nature was published, and after the education minister took up the concerns raised by it with schools, that we still have a situation where adults can work with children in a school setting, without being checked." | Mr Black said: "I am shocked that nine months after a report of this nature was published, and after the education minister took up the concerns raised by it with schools, that we still have a situation where adults can work with children in a school setting, without being checked." |
| It is still unclear how many of the 125 schools in Powys are affected. | |
| A council spokesman said no-one who had not been checked would work with children unsupervised until the investigation was completed. | |
| The council will confirm later how many employees had been overlooked, but it is believed to be around 80. | |
| Helen Mary Jones, Plaid Cymru AM for mid and west Wales, accused Powys council of "complacency" and said she would raise the issue with Ms Davidson. | Helen Mary Jones, Plaid Cymru AM for mid and west Wales, accused Powys council of "complacency" and said she would raise the issue with Ms Davidson. |
| Referring to a review by social services inspectors published last February which called for "urgent" improvements in children's services in Powys, Mrs Jones said the CRB checks issue illustrated that the county didn't understand "the culture of child protection." | Referring to a review by social services inspectors published last February which called for "urgent" improvements in children's services in Powys, Mrs Jones said the CRB checks issue illustrated that the county didn't understand "the culture of child protection." |
| "It's alright for the minister to say we give the guidance, but they knew a year ago they had in Powys a county council that wasn't implementing guidance," she said. | "It's alright for the minister to say we give the guidance, but they knew a year ago they had in Powys a county council that wasn't implementing guidance," she said. |
| "What have they done in course of a year to change things?" | "What have they done in course of a year to change things?" |