I'm a self employed flute and piano teacher and am looking into getting a CRB check. Does anyone have one and know how much they cost? I've had a quick look online and it says self employed people can't apply but I don't know what 'umbrella' company to choose to get the check.

When I rang the helpline they said to hold fire until next year when they decide whether we actually need to register or not (I'm talking about purely private tuition, not at a school). It's not compulsory until next July and the whole thing is currently being reviewed.

HA! Am in the throes of a CRB application as we speak...

There is one site that can act as your umbrella company, which I don't know personally, as I hadn't heard of them when I was trying to get a CRB. Take a look at http://www.ukcrb.com/selfemployed.htm - I think you'll have to call them to get any useful information.

Another option (the one I went for, under the advice of a CRB-check company) is to get one of your students/a potential student, who technically employs/might decide to employ you, to do it. All they have to do is call a number and say they want a CRB check on you. Then the forms are sent to their house, they bring them to you and you each fill in your sections of the form (all they have to do is verify some ID documents you'll show them, eg passport), then they post them back. You each get sent the resulting CRB certificate. The company I'm doing it through are ProCRB, who were really helpful with all the above advice over the phone, and also actually answer the phone (no automated stuff). Their website is http://www.procrb.co.uk/.

If you can persuade a school to apply for one on your behalf, that can also work.

Good luck! It can be a real mission trying to get hold of one as a self-employed person! My forms were only posted off today, so I'll let you know how it goes...

That's all very well, but it only covers you for the "employer" who requests it. You cannot use it for any other employment. That's the whole point of the new scheme - that the person themselves applies for it and it covers ALL employers.

From my (limited) experience of how you can use them, it depends - each organisation needs a separate one, yes, but for private arrangements (eg a listing on a tutor-search site, and even some schools where they are just providing a venue but not employing the tutor themselves), it can be acceptable just to "have a CRB" - some people don't really know much about it, but still want the assurance that you "have one". So can be reused in those circumstances...