Popular kids social group, incident and DBS..Disclosure and Barring Service

[Rich44]

I'll try to keep this short but it's rather convoluted and I need to not mention organisations or it could all identify everyone involved so please be patient.

 

My child went to a popular social group for children and I was a volunteer there too. I am guessing to an extent what is going on as they won't tell me which is part of the problem.

 

There was an incident involving my child and another of inappropriate touching it was investigated by police and social services who concluded it was a game (tag/it) and it was an accident and blown out of all proportion by the other child.

 

The upset child came to me to complain and I told them to tell a different volunteer as it involved my child too and I could not deal with it as if anyone looked later it could look like I was biased. I believe later she did tell another adult.

 

Some time later I hear my child is suspended for the incident and that I am too but only because I am the parent, ok I think. I then hear an allegation has been made against me, despite a DPA SAR which they returned they have not informed me of what I am accused of. They asked me to defend myself but obviously I cannot because I don't know what I am accused of, I did write back explaining all this and asking again.

 

It obviously cannot be serious as the police and social services are NOT involved but still.

 

I have written to them over and over, they claim they have sent the info but I have never received it (I have received every other letter they've sent) they then claim they sent it via email, unsecured and unencrypted but I never got that so I believe they have breached the data protection act as well.

 

This week I get a letter from the DBS people saying they are considering adding me to the banned list so I wouldn't be allowed to do any of the church stuff I do, school stuff and Lord knows what else. On top of this the other parent present, their child did sexually assault my child which was witnessed by many other children and I have it in writing that the people at the top have called me a liar and refused to pass the attack on my child on to the police and social services (I told them myself but very little has happened).

 

It seems there is 1 rule for me and mine and another for others. I really don't know where to go and what to do next so any and all advice would be welcome. I will answer any questions where possible but I am really trying to make sure I don't identify anyone especially as it's ongoing and there are children involved. I will just confirm there is no police or social services involvement against me or my child, we had social services round who gave me and my child a clean report and said the whole thing was completely silly so I have that in writing. The original child who complained to me is practically related to the other adult present and I believe that is where this came from but I don't know and I also believe that it has been pushed through this way because the other volunteer was having an affair with higher up decision maker at the organisation (they have since admitted to be in a relationship which I suspected at the time but now confirmed and this person I was reporting my concerns to about the other volunteer and obviously just told them what was going on)

 

It's just this data protection stuff, the DBS who you can't write to unless they have broken the law they won't consider any submissions so I am desperate to get this sorted before this happens. Please help!

[AndyOrch]

Thread title amended.

 

Rich44 I think this is something you really need to seek Qualified Legal Advice on rather than the views from a Consumer Forum.

 

We will leave it here in this forum for now.

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/disclosure-and-barring-service

 

Regards

 

Andy

[Rich44]

That's why I posted in the legal forum, unfortunately legal is not an option as there's no legal aid for such things now and our income is basically next to nothing owing to ill health and disability. I have already read the DBS link thank you for posting it but thats why I was after some advice because you can't talk to DBS, you can't defend yourself.

 

I have written to them again and made a complaint to the ICO for an incomplete SAR, not processing data accurately etc but other than writing another complaint to them I don't know what else to do.

 

Even if there was legal aid available the nearest practice that does it is over 30 miles each way and because of the situation and it not being "criminal" there won't be any financial help available, same with the citizens advice they say they can't help. Just looks like they get away with lies and I get banned from volunteering everywhere I do at present and the scare story the DBS letter puts on you it could be even worse than that

[AndyOrch]

I posted it for others possibly unaware what DBS is and hence the the thread title amended.

 

Have you looked into Pro Bono services ?

 

https://www.barprobono.org.uk/do-you-need-help.html

[Rich44]

Just looking at that looks like you need to be referred there first. Think i'll try our MP he's helped before on other things maybe if he's involved they'll at least send the information so we can at least defend it. Stupid that after social services and the police closed the book with nothing needing doing they still think this is appropriate. Everything has gone wrong in the last year my dad had a horrible death from cancer, car's broken down several times, repaired and now broken again so we're stuff during the holidays, kids need shoes can't even get there to get feet measured, fridge freezer is doing an impression of a cooker and now this i'm just well wits end doesn't even come close. Thank you for the suggestion didn't even know that existed.

 

Referral Agencies

 

We cannot accept applications from individuals unless they are are referred to us by an advice agency or a lawyer (solicitor or barrister).

An example of an advice agency is a:

• Citizen Advice Bureau or
  
• Law Centre or
  
• Your local MP or
  
• A Legal Advice Clinic
  

[AndyOrch]