How to dig up dirt on people?

[gruntygiggles]

Originally Posted by CoolGirl

Q - 2 simple things you can do:

1. check with Companies House that he's not struck off (you can do this without his knowledge). www.companieshouse.gov.uk

2. Openly suggest that everyone invovled has a credit check, with the intention of proving to potential donors that you're all clean. It'll cost you £2 each.

Credit check may not be the best, could be getting into the territory of being predjudice against him, when actually, he;s done nothing wrong, just useless with bills.


+1 to Ralph and to add to it, I don't know...but am pretty sure that in order to handle funds or personal information in a charitable organisation you have to be CRB checked. It is after all handling public donations.

On a side note, I would like to say again, I don't think his behaviour warrants any massive concern, some people are different in the way they do things, this does not mean they are wrong or bad for it.

CRB check will give you what you need and more importantly, cover your backs should something go wrong!

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

Pillow talk works wonders

Originally Posted by gruntygiggles

+1 to Ralph

I like pillow talk....

[Viney]

He sounds like a salt of the earth type of chap, id employ him

Q, if you want me to do a companies house check on him let me know, as will put it on my companies account.

[gruntygiggles]

A companies house check can give you details of if any previous companies, directorships etc he has held, but that will not give you information on whether or not he is fit to be employed either paid or voluntarily by the organisation you are building.

Also, what would you do with that information? You find out something you don't like and what do you do? You'll need to give him a reason for letting him go. If he finds out you have done this search, although in itself it is legal to do so, you leave yourself open to legal action as you do not have the right to judge him on the information that you recieve.

I think you need to tread very very carefully as the last thing you want is for this to blow up in your face and if you don't do the right thing...that's precisely what could happen.

For your peace of mind, you need to know if he has ever been convicted of any fraudulent activities to ensure that the finances of the organisation are safe and you need to know that he is not a danger to vulnerable people.
A CRB check will ensure both of these, also run a basic credit check in some cases and leave you in no doubt. All other avenues will still leave you in doubt of the full picture.

Originally Posted by gruntygiggles

Also, what would you do with that information? You find out something you don't like and what do you do? You'll need to give him a reason for letting him go. If he finds out you have done this search, although in itself it is legal to do so, you leave yourself open to legal action as you do not have the right to judge him on the information that you recieve.

I think you need to tread very very carefully as the last thing you want is for this to blow up in your face and if you don't do the right thing...that's precisely what could happen.

If he is working for a charity on a voluntary basis, does he have any rights as an employee? Would they need reasons for letting him go?

[gruntygiggles]

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

If he is working for a charity on a voluntary basis, does he have any rights as an employee? Would they need reasons for letting him go?

No, but if he finds out checks have been made that he has not consented to and he feels that he has been wrongly treated on the result of those judgements, then yes, he has rights as any of us do.

I have just checked and anyone involved with the running of a charitable organisation, by law needs to be CRB checked if that organisation helps children or vulnerable adults. This applies even if the individual will never come into contact with these children and vulnerable adults. In the legal terms it may be worded differently, but that's the jist of it.

What I am unsure of and have someone checking for Q, is whether or not you have to, by law be CRB checked to handle the funds in a charitable organisation too. I would have a feeling you do and even in the case that you didn't, I would ask any volunteer to do it for purposes of full disclosure.

Where everyone is checked properly, the organisation is far better protected against backlash and legal repercussions should one of the volunteers defruad them (remember it's public money) or harm a vulnerable individual.

I think it's a no brainer myself.

CRB checks? I'm assuming is like our Disclosure Scotland check - crim records??

think we've worked out the way we're going to approach this - Coffee cake and some straight talking. all exit options are covered just in case. But we'll see how it goes

CRB = Criminal records Bureau. Don't know what it is in Scotland, but Sandrine has to be checked as a teacher, and I'm not aware of anything that says she can't work in Scotland. Just have a meeting saying that you have discovered the legislation exists and say everyone needs to undergo a companies house check and a CRB check. Those with nothing to hide should not protest.