Criminal Record Check?

[Inspired by Reggio]

Mine is old too and I refuse on principle to get a new one. ....

I agree ... mine is a couple years old now too and the only reason it is that new is because CAS paid to have one done on both my spouse and me in order for a client to place a child in the midst of 'adoption' into my program and because the child was technically a CAS ward all adults who care for CAS clients must have police check and vulnerable screening check done - they gave me a copy of them.

A police check is only good if the person has been CAUGHT doing something wrong, charged and found guilty of it so there is a 'record' .... they are basically only good at preventing 'convicted' people from getting a job and well even then only if they have not MOVED to a different jurisdiction!

So if a client really wants a 'current' one I would tell them that I am more than willing to undergo another one however because I already paid to have the one done at the start of my business that any additional ones would be on THEIR DIME .... my willingness to have one done shows that I have nothing to hide and well if they want to PAY for it so be it and if they do not want to pay for it than IMO they do not really VALUE it either

[Crayola kiddies]

I agree with everyone ... It is a useless piece of paper and all it means is you've never been caught at anything... I have one thats 18 months old... I show it to parents and they never look at the dates most of them barely even look at it but make you dig it out ....good luck with your move and you new daycare alpha

[Mamma_Mia]

I've been asked many times if I have one, and I say no but I will get one if you'd like me too. and that's as far as its even gone.....no one has ever actualy asked me for one.

If it's THAT important you'd think they'd inforce it, right? dont get me wrong I'm happy I haven't had to go through it, but I don't have anything to hide!

[mom-in-alberta]

My area, the typical documents are the Police Check and a Child Welfare Check.
I agree, the police check is worth less than the paper it's written on. It only shows something that I have been charged with or prosecuted for. If someone has been pardoned, that won't even come up.
The Child Welfare Check will show any investigations done by Family Services, like any allegations of abuse and so on. Funnily enough, I have never had parents ask me for it, even though it has slightly more relevance. I say slightly, because I still would have to have been reported to have anything show up.
Silly.

On a side note; why so cranky? Everything ok in the Alphagetti house? Or just havin' a bad day?

[Sandbox Sally]

On a side note; why so cranky? Everything ok in the Alphagetti house? Or just havin' a bad day?

Thanks for asking. I am better today. I just have a LOT on my plate with moving and working full time and homeschooling my daughter. I'm also trying to get insurance on a new vehicle that's in NS and the new house insured and moving all the utilities, etc. My middle child has a raging case of strep throat, so I've been dealing with that too. My husband is on the road Monday to Friday, too, so all of this is on just me.

One of my current daycare moms is asking for extra days, because they too are moving, and "y'know, it's just a LOT for me, and I could really use the help of you taking him". Yeah...because I am just sitting around doing nothing...frustratin g as I have to listen to her whine about how hectic her life is because she works, has a toddler and is moving. OH really? I have THREE kids, your kid, two others, a ft job and I am moving too. But hey...bring it on, right? Sorry, just venting. And it does feel good!

Oh and fielding daycare inquiries, some of which border on the absurd...haha Just a lot at once. Oh, and my A/C isn't working properly and it was 39 yesterday w the humidex, and not much cooler today. AND my landlord wants to show the house on Saturday and it's a rat's nest...like I said, I am just a little overwhelmed. Reading over all that made me want to cry. Sigh. Bah! I will definitely be ok. Our new house has a hot tub. LOL

But - the good news is, I have SEVEN interviews in my new town. Seven. I am very excited about that. I am pretty sure I will be full by September. And that's at the new rate that I am going to standardize in my new town (if any of you caught that thread).

[Sandbox Sally]

I've been asked many times if I have one, and I say no but I will get one if you'd like me too. and that's as far as its even gone.....no one has ever actualy asked me for one.

I said the same, and two different moms said, yeah, anyone who cares for my kid will have to produce a record check. So...hopefully it comes back and I can pick it up before we skip town...otherwise, I'll have to make a trip back to the city to grab it.

[Momof4]

Alpha, sorry you are so stressed! It sounds like a lot and I hope you get the move over and the new daycare full soon so you can relax.

I'm wondering why so many people in your new location are asking for a police check. Was there an incident that scared everybody recently?

[playfelt]

We seem to go through cycles in Ontario and not sure if it is media driven or what but I think there are too many mommies on local mommies boards and talking and sharing and scaring each other.

For a few years it was first aid certificates being up to date as in within the last 6 months or less even though they are good for three years - used to be five.

Then it was references and not just daycare they wanted a personal reference - well now we have facebook for checking out your weekend friends and activities I guess.

Now it is the police check. I think because it has expanded to be so in demand everywhere that it just becomes the thing to ask for. It has gotten to the point of silly but every organization is in a panic to protect themselves legally. As I said earlier we were to have one to be a sunday school teacher so instead of getting one I refused to teach. My son had to have one to help with a soccer team for under age 7 even though the only time he was with the boys was on the field and parents were there cause the kids were too young to get themselves there as in he wasn't responsible for them just there too. I get it sort of just wish others would get that the false sense of security is going to come back to haunt them in the end because it proves nothing.

There are several checklists for parents floating around on Ontario websites - including listed on teh CCPRN unless they have changed it but one of the questions parents are told to ask about is if we have insurance. That is for my protection not theirs and as far as I am concerned non of their business. Have had a few ask about it and my response to the question has always been "Why are you planning to sue me?" to which they mumble something and usually change the subject. If they insist on an answer I tell them non of their business and that has totally got the interview off on the wrong foot and it usually doesn't go well from there cause I am mad at this point or they are annoyed or both.

I think media does do a lot of the damage in how they report about incidents, etc.

[Inspired by Reggio]

I am going to disagree about the role of insurance ... as much as I hate it it does protect BOTH parties .... if something happens in your home and a child is seriuosly injured while in your care proper insurance will ensure that YOU are not out of pocket any expenses they need covered as a result of the injury ... for them your liability insurance not only covers the child's extra medical costs but the lost income and so forth of a parent to be home caring for them as they recover and all the other outcomes an accident can have ... having insurance or not does not prevent them from suing either way the difference being is your insurance paying them or are you remortgaging your house and having wages garnisheed???

I provided proof of insurance in my portfolio - just easier IMO the police check, first aid and all those other checklist type things are in there so I never get asked for them and half time noone even really LOOKS at them ? I have only had one client ever call my references as well????

[Emily3]

Sorry you are having a crazy time Alpha.....i'm sure that new hot tub will soon become your best friend!! Just thought I'd mention this in case anyone else is trying to find out about a clearance. I walked into the peel police headquarters, filled in a one page form, showed my passport and was mailed my vulnerable sector clearance. It was no big deal at all!!