Ello Ello - Criminal Record Checks on volunteers

[troll]

Would like to see them try and get that through! Community Service is for offenders and to make it compulsory for non-offenders sounds like an attempt at mass punishment for being young! Might be a nice scheme for MPs-about time they got their hands dirty. Can just see Milliband et al scrubbing graffiti off public toilet walls...delicious thought.

That said, if community service does hit the statute books then we are well placed to make a valid contribution and perhaps we (the BAJRFed) should make representations now? Perhaps we could encourage/open dialogue with other arts/sciences and test the waters. If community service is on the cards then why not make it something constructive and inspiring rather than an exercise in exploiting cheap,bored and frustrated labour.

Like Austin, in my past life, I too worked with ex-offenders, substance abusers etc as a counsellor. I have to support Austin in his views- to work with vulnerable groups in society requires a fair battery of core skills and they are extremely transferable.

I think we are edging towards something quite exciting here. After all, archaeology is all about behavioural dynamics (feel free to argue!).

Is this the point at which we should open another thread to take this further? "archaeology as a contribution to society" or such like dramatic title??:face-approve:

..knowledge without action is insanity and action without knowledge is vanity..(imam ghazali,ayyuhal-walad)

[BAJR Host]

Just to update people... am following this one right up... I am worried about the requirement for people on an excavation to be 'fit and healthy' as that is me out but also the more I look at CRB checking.. the more I realise that checking volunteers on an excavation is not required.. either legally or reasonably... Perhaps they will be able to explain why the level of discrimination is so high... and we can all learn for it.

read this http://www.crb.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=5061 for more about CRB checks

If archaeology is going to be accessible, then it better be.

"Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity and are able to turn both to their advantage."
Niccolo Machiavelli

[the invisible man]

Surely 'fit and healthy' is a relative condition and needs to be taken in context. In this instance volunteers are asked to be fit and healthy enough to take part in the fieldwork, which will presumably involve quite hard physical work: this does not seem unreasonable to me, in fact it might be irresponsible not to include such conditions.

However, without being aware of the full details in this case, I would assume that there are arrangements that can be made for those who do not feel they can take part in the full range of physical activities, for whatever reason, to particpate in other activities appropriate to their abilities: this is quite normal on volunteer and 'training' digs. To make such arrangements it is of course necessary to know the circumstances of the individual.

[BAJR Host]

Indeed it is... however, what is your definition of fit? Where can I find criteria that says this person is fit...? it is indeed a relative condition... so can it be a criteria for selection? Would a person in a wheelchair be desribed as fit and healthy? what about colour blind? bad knee? bad back? where is the line drawn? It should be (as Prof. Tim Phillips from Reading puts it... archaeology can be accessible.. fieldwork can be accessible... only it becomes an issue when people place their own subjective and relative views onto it.

Would you expect to see that in adverts from now on?

Diggers... must be fit.

Project Officers, must be able to write

Consultants... must be able to climb stairs

THe question is whether that is part of the selection process - where you discriminate based on a series of assumptions? After all... who would expect a disabled person to be fit and able..?
[img] http://www.trendhunter.com/images/phpthu...1_230.jpeg [/img]

please read: http://www.scribd.com/doc/11108039/Leaflet


"Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity and are able to turn both to their advantage."
Niccolo Machiavelli

[BAJR Host]

The concept that has been sent back to me is that ALL volunteers must be CRB checked as they come into contact with the public. The range of volunteer activities ranges from excavation to car park attendant and catering... A quick look at this site (Volunteer England) http://www.volunteering.org.uk/Resources...hencrb.htm

highlights this.

"If you are unsure whether a particular volunteer role is eligible for a CRB check, you should check the list of ?disclosure access category codes? on the CRB website. If an application for a CRB check is not justified, you could be breaking the CRB?s Code of Practice or breaking the law. "

and this

"The legal requirement to check someone?s background will be solely based on the type of contact which they will have with children or vulnerable adults, and not partly based on whether the organisation is under statutory obligations to do so."



My question stands, in that I know of no other Archaeology Volunteer Project that requires a blanket CRB check of ALL volunteers. Perhaps I am wrong, but would like comment.

"Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity and are able to turn both to their advantage."
Niccolo Machiavelli