Poor recruitment checks
Failure to gather and record all necessary information for recruitment purposes, potentially leading to unsuitable staff being hired.
232 items
11 sources
1 inquiry
Source spread
Where this theme appears
Poor recruitment checks has been flagged across 11 independent accountability sources:
4 inquiry recs
27 PFD reports
10 committee recs
153 CQC actions
9 PPO recs
2 IOPC recs
2 NAO recs
4 IMB reports
15 IMB recs
2 LGO/SPSO decisions
When the same issue appears across inquiries, coroner reports, and regulators independently, it indicates a recurring issue across the public record.
Browse by source
Source-grouped records are useful for tracing where a concern came from. Large sections show the 50 strongest matches for that source; counts still show the full theme total.
Inquiry Recommendations (4)
R30 — Overseas applicant checking
Recommendation: Proposals should be brought forward as soon as possible to improve the checking of people from overseas who want to work with children and vulnerable adults.
Gov response: The Home Secretary made a statement to Parliament on 22 June 2004, the day the Bichard Inquiry Report was published, accepting all 31 recommendations in full. The government stated it was "in principle, accepting Sir …
Accepted
R28 — Broader consent on Police Check Form
Recommendation: The consents that applicants currently give on the 'Police Check Form' should be sufficiently broad to enable the requisite checks to be undertaken.
Gov response: The Home Secretary made a statement to Parliament on 22 June 2004, the day the Bichard Inquiry Report was published, accepting all 31 recommendations in full. The government stated it was "in principle, accepting Sir …
Accepted
R27 — Information verification confirmation
Recommendation: Registered Bodies should be required to confirm that they have checked the information on the 'Police Check Form' in accordance with CRB guidance.
Gov response: The Home Secretary made a statement to Parliament on 22 June 2004, the day the Bichard Inquiry Report was published, accepting all 31 recommendations in full. The government stated it was "in principle, accepting Sir …
Accepted
R29 — Incomplete applications returned to Registered Body
Recommendation: Incomplete or withdrawn applications should in future be returned to the Registered Body, and not to the applicant.
Gov response: The Home Secretary made a statement to Parliament on 22 June 2004, the day the Bichard Inquiry Report was published, accepting all 31 recommendations in full. The government stated it was "in principle, accepting Sir …
Accepted
PFD Reports (27)
James Boylan
Concerns: Unidentified ligature points, inadequate patient searching for contraband, poor communication of escalating risks, and incomplete GRIST assessments contributed to the patient's death in a mental health unit.
Response (Department of Health): The Department of Health states that NHS England has identified the need for both a Mental Health Patient Safety Expert Group and an Expert Safety Primary Care Group to improve …
Overdue
Thomas Warren
Concerns: The employing Trust failed to adequately vet a locum doctor, missing critical information about previous concerns and investigations from other healthcare bodies, and relying solely on basic GMC restriction checks.
Response (Department of Health): NHS England's Medication Safety Team is planning to highlight the risks of prescribing Fentanyl patches to opiate-naive patients and the recommended safer practices at a future meeting of the National …
Response (Lewisham Greenwich NHS Trust): The Trust ensures compliance with NHS Employment Check Standards and uses agencies approved under the National Agency Framework Agreement. An internal audit team will review temporary staff processes in January …
Overdue
William Hafele
Concerns: Inadequate training and communication between police and hospital staff on missing persons procedures led to critical information omissions, misclassification, and a complete failure to investigate Mr. Hafele's whereabouts.
Response (Surrey Police): Surrey Police are reviewing and updating their Missing Person Policy to align with new ACPO guidelines, including clarifying risk assessment processes and responsibilities, and making information available on officers' MDTs. …
Response (Surrey Borders Partnership NHS): The Trust has emphasized the importance of the Missing Persons (MISPER) process and instructed staff to complete Appendix A. A member of the Clinical Assurance team is assigned to ensure …
Responded
George Hulme
Concerns: Care home agency staff lacked resident identification information and adequate induction. Rooms were not clearly marked, leading to confusion during emergencies and incorrect patient file retrieval for treatment.
Overdue
Rubel Ahmed
Concerns: Detainees were locked in rooms overnight against recommendations, staff lacked robust detention awareness and refresher training, and crucial information like removal directions was not shared.
Response (Home Office): The Home Office acknowledges the concerns regarding the death at Morton Hall IRC. They explain the challenges of unlocking rooms overnight, the existing practices for detention awareness, and the use …
Overdue
Derek Thomas
Concerns: Prison reception procedures failed under extreme pressure, leading to suicide risk information being overlooked due to staffing issues. Additionally, there was poor communication and conflicting understanding between prison and escort staff regarding critical safety form procedures.
Response (HMP Durham): Nursing staff have been instructed to review all documents when completing reception screening, and staff have been reminded of the importance of ensuring all paperwork accompanies an individual. All initial …
Response (HM Prison and Probation Service): The prison has implemented mandatory verbal handover of SASH form information from reception staff to healthcare staff. All staff working in reception must complete an online training course, managed by …
Response (Care UK): Care UK is no longer the healthcare provider at HMP Durham. It will forward the concerns to heads of healthcare at other facilities where it interacts with GEO Amey and …
Response (GEOAMEY): GEOAmey provided refresher training to over 90% of their officers regarding the completion of Prisoner Escort Records (PER) and Self Harm and Suicide Warning Forms (SASH Forms), following concerns raised …
Overdue
Peter Lawrence
Concerns: The initial screening process for new prisoners lacked a robust method to identify and comprehensively record less obvious risk factors, particularly with limited background information.
Overdue
Ivy Atkin
Concerns: A regulatory loophole allows individuals with criminal convictions to become "Nominated Individuals" for care homes without independent suitability assessment, particularly in small, family-owned companies.
Response (Department of Health): The Department of Health acknowledges concerns regarding Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for Nominated Individuals in small family-owned companies and states that the CQC is addressing the issue. They …
Response (CQC): The CQC is reviewing its processes for assessing the suitability of Nominated Individuals and directors, particularly in small providers where overlap between roles may pose a risk. Changes are anticipated …
Overdue
Jeff Miles
Concerns: Prolonged occupational exposure to white spirit, involving both direct skin contact and vapour inhalation over 13 years, caused the employee's death.
Overdue
Mark Berry
Concerns: Hospital staff delayed police notification of a suspicious death due to procedural confusion. Additionally, ambulance handover and private ambulance communication lacked critical patient location details, hindering investigation.
Overdue
Kevin Miles
Concerns: The diver medical certification process is flawed as it doesn't require GP records, enabling misreporting of health issues and risking divers' and potential rescuers' lives.
Response (UKDMC): The UK Diving Medical Committee (UKDMC) discussed the coroner's points but sees no reason to change the current system of self-certification for divers, where the onus is on the diver …
Overdue
Polly Drew
Concerns: The recruitment process for a doctor with access to anaesthetic drugs and significant responsibility was completely inadequate, leading to her working alone and posing risks to patients.
Overdue
Kamil Iddrisu
Concerns: There is a critical need to screen all non-UK military selection candidates for sickle cell trait, both before and after selection, due to the significant risk of collapse or death during military exercise.
Response (Ministry of Defence): • Following the death of two candidates, the 2000m run was suspended for all Commonwealth Candidates. • Multidisciplinary meetings have taken place, informed by an Evidence-Based Medicine approach, to address …
Responded
Arthur Hughes
Concerns: A lack of protocol for assessing locum staff's practical skills and managerial reluctance to thoroughly check references created risks that locums might perform tasks beyond their capabilities.
Response (Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board): The Health Board is revising and implementing a SOP for locum appointments, including additional pre-employment checks and reviews of practice. Implementation was delayed due to COVID-19 but is intended from …
Overdue
Jane Jowers
Concerns: The absence of statutory international criminal background checks allows unsuitable individuals with foreign convictions to work with vulnerable adults and children, posing a significant risk.
Response (DBS): The DBS acknowledges the coroner's concern about the lack of statutory international criminal conviction checks and explains its role in providing DBS checks for employment in England, Wales, the Channel …
Responded
Angela Best
Concerns: A high-risk individual's critical discharge condition, requiring disclosure of intimate relationships, relied solely on his self-reporting despite known untruthfulness, with no independent verification mechanism.
Response (Ministry of Justice): The MoJ is drafting discharge guidance for the Mental Health Casework Section (MHCS), identifying patients discharged prior to 2003 for MAPPA consideration, and revising court orders for new patients to …
Responded
Caden Stewart
Concerns: Prison staff were unaware of relevant policies, and there was a critical lack of communication among officers regarding a prisoner's unwell status and need for healthcare, leading to missed checks and handovers.
Response (HM Prison and Probation Service): In September 2021, HMP Cookham Wood issued a Notice to Staff reminding PE staff of PSI 58/2011 requirements and introduced daily roll books to record time spent in activities and …
Responded
Richard Franks
Concerns: Critical information regarding a prisoner's suicidal intent expressed at court was not communicated to prison staff, leading to inadequate monitoring and a lack of necessary support measures.
Response (David Ake Co Solicitors): The solicitors will ensure that they remind appropriate organisations each time a threat to self-harm is repeated.
Responded
Liam Lyes-Watson
Concerns: The report identifies that a call handler was not trained and needed advice from a colleague who did not speak to the caller, and consideration should be given to recording incoming calls to the Access Team.
Response (Midlands Partnership NHS Trust): The call handler has discussed their working practice in supervision meetings, an aide memoire has been introduced to gather relevant information when patients call to self-refer, and a mandatory question …
Responded
Amy Henderson
Concerns: Delays in private hospitals accessing NHS records prevented crucial information, like prior ligature practice, from being immediately known. There was also staff confusion regarding responsibility for removing banned items on admission.
Response (NHS England): NHS England states that Shared Care Records programme, implemented by Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), will improve access to patient records in private hospitals. National guidance around risk assessments is being …
Overdue
Ivan Ignatov
Concerns: A detainee's mental health assessment was missed in police custody, and an act of self-harm was misjudged. Critical risk information, including first-time custody status, was not properly recorded or collated, hindering comprehensive risk assessment.
Response (Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue): Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service states its commitment to the Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Principles (JESIP) and highlights that the challenges of intra-operability with partners is an area …
Response (Dorset Police): Dorset Police has updated the Niche system by adding a drop-down list regarding Google Translate translation software. They are also implementing changes to Section 2 of Occurrence Logs on Niche, …
Response (Maritime and Coastguard Agency): HM Coastguard updated its Capability Matrix to provide partner emergency services across the UK with information on its communications capabilities and uploaded it to the MCA's ResilienceDirect page. 'Connect' call …
Response (National Fire Chiefs Council): The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) supports the consistent and robust embedding of the Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Programme (JESIP) doctrine and will commence work in autumn 2023 to establish …
Response (South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust): The Trust outlines its existing communication protocols with other emergency services, including ambulance dispatchers' ability to communicate with air ambulances and telephone links with SAR aircraft via the Maritime and …
Response (NHS England): NHS England acknowledges concerns but notes many fall outside its remit. It encourages local systems to consider accessibility of resources and highlights agreed actions between Dorset Healthcare Criminal Justice Liaison …
Response (Associations of Ambulance Chief Executives): AACE will work with partners in police, fire and rescue, and search and rescue and the matter of concern will be discussed at the UKSAR Communications working group. The Medical …
Response (NicheRMS): NicheRMS circulated the facts of the coroner's report to Niche Technology customers and is seeking views on changes needed to reduce the chance of a similar occurrence. A temporary solution …
Response (National Police Air Service): NPAS and HMCG have agreed to a series of joint familiarisation briefings for all staff and will develop a joint "quick action card" prioritising the need for the Host Force …
Response (College of Policing): The College of Policing will amend the Detention and Custody APP checklist to include a question about previous arrests. Once this amendment has been made the College will write to …
Response (Royal National Lifeboat Institution): The RNLI is updating its page on the government's "ResilienceDirect" platform with details about its capabilities and pulling together material to be shared directly with emergency services partners. The RNLI …
Responded
Emma Morrissey
Concerns: Health tourism company failed to adequately assess patient fitness for surgery abroad, using unclear pre-assessment questions. There was no investigation into the operating table death, and embalming and medical reporting were inadequate.
Response (Department of Health and Social Care): The Department of Health and Social Care is investigating global medical tourism, consulting with stakeholders, and planning a visit to Türkiye to discuss regulatory frameworks and patient protections. They will …
Responded
Barbara Rymell
Concerns: Care staff with insufficient English proficiency pose a risk to vulnerable patients by hindering effective communication with emergency services, potentially delaying urgent medical attention.
Response (Home Office): The Home Office expresses condolences and explains the English language requirements for various immigration routes. They will tighten requirements for care workers coming to the UK on the Health and …
Overdue
Nicholas Harrison
Concerns: The Approved Mental Health Practitioner service repeatedly failed to conduct legally compliant Mental Health Act assessments, including insufficient collateral information gathering and inadequate medical attendance, despite family requests.
Response (Welsh Government): The Welsh Government is focusing on improvements within several wards across health boards in Wales, including Ward F at Neath Port Talbot Hospital, setting national standards for risk assessment and …
Response (City and County of Swansea): The council will continue to work with Swansea Bay University Health Board (SBUHB) to ensure mental health professionals who require access to the WCCIS system are granted access, and discussions …
Response (Swansea Bay University Health Board): Swansea Bay University Health Board has implemented anti-ligature training, updated its observation policy, created a new assessment tool for environmental risks, established a process to review patients who do not …
Response (Swansea Bay University Health Board): The health board is reminding all clinical staff to ensure care plans are placed at the front of clinical notes or on the digital front page in WCCIS, and that …
Responded
Ian Harris
Concerns: The HGV licence medical process allows drivers to use independent GPs without access to full medical history, enabling them to hide disqualifying conditions and pose a road risk.
Response (DVLA): The DVLA acknowledges the concerns and explains the current driver licensing requirements, including medical standards and reporting obligations. They state that the information provided on Mr. Harris's D4 medical reports …
Responded
Peter Anzani
Concerns: Patient observations were not adequately recorded, possibly due to a lack of staff training. Additionally, significant hospital waiting lists and prolonged patient waits for reviews are caused by staffing shortages and insufficient funding.
Response (NHS England): NHS England expresses condolences and provides context regarding the commissioning and funding of specialised services, stating that no formal funding requests from RJAH for workforce development were rejected. They also …
Response (The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust): The Trust outlines actions taken including; policy updates regarding patient observations, revised sepsis guidelines, improved communication of quality metrics and risk awareness to staff. They have also implemented e-learning and …
Overdue
Gareth Chumber-Kelly
Concerns: Inefficient prison reception processes lead to lost critical prisoner information, and suicide/self-harm training for staff was suspended despite high rates of suicidal ideation and ligature deaths.
Response (HM Prison and Probation Service): • HMP Pentonville has introduced a digital induction passport to consolidate key risk information from paper records into a secure electronic format. • The prison has appointed a Head of …
Overdue
Committee Recommendations (10)
#17 — Require pre-appointment scrutiny for the next permanent CCRC Chair due to recent failings.
Recommendation: We reiterate the importance of our request for pre-appointment scrutiny of the next permanent chair. We believe this is vital given the recent failings of the CCRC and the shortcomings of the previous chair. (Conclusion, Paragraph 54)
Gov response: You have reiterated the importance of your request for pre-appointment scrutiny of the next permanent chair. On 2 June, the Lord Chancellor wrote to the Chair of the Justice Committee to confirm that the Chancellor …
Accepted
#187 — Amend HMPPS recruitment to mandate face-to-face interviews by local governors for frontline staff
Recommendation: HMPPS must amend its recruitment process to ensure that all frontline staff, including prison officers, undergo a mandatory face-to-face interview process led by local governors. This critical step addresses the identified deficiency in governors not having direct involvement in the …
Gov response: NHSE and MoJ will work in partnership to explore research to identify the best, evidence based psychosocial and pharmacological interventions and treatments to address behaviours that drive use of psychoactive substances and synthetic opioids. DHSC …
Accepted
#7 — Amend prison staff recruitment to grant Governors ultimate decision and mandate face-to-face interviews.
Recommendation: Governors must have the ultimate decision on the recruitment of staff who work in their prison. HMPPS must amend its recruitment process to ensure that all frontline staff, including prison officers, undergo a mandatory face-to-face interview process led by Governors …
Gov response: 24. Historic underinvestment and paused projects driven by a rising prison population has worsened the maintenance backlog and left the estate vulnerable to sudden capacity losses. A stable prison estate is essential to wider system …
Partially Accepted
#186 — Align HMPPS personnel vetting requirements with tier-one security agencies and mandate lifelong vetting
Recommendation: HMPPS must immediately commit to aligning its personnel vetting requirements with those of other tier-one security and law enforcement agencies, such as the police. While the nature of the work differs, the threat profile is comparable. This alignment must establish …
Gov response: The Committee’s report makes clear that levels of drugs in prisons are too high and tackling this is a priority for HMPPS as set out in the response to chapter 4. This context makes it …
Partially Accepted
#5 —
Recommendation: The Ministry and HMPPS are relying on a provider to deliver the new secure school model, but the approach they are taking is untested and there are insufficient safeguards in place. The Ministry and HMPPS appointed a provider, Oasis Charitable …
Gov response: The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. school providers) will be supplemented by handbooks on finance, governance and assurance (setting out requirements and expectations on the secure school provider, including performance). The Funding Agreement package …
Accepted
#70 —
Recommendation: The Government and the NHS should consider establishing a volunteer reserve database so that volunteers who have had appropriate checks can be rapidly called up and deployed in an emergency rather than needing to begin from scratch.
Gov response: The government partially accepts this recommendation. The government agrees that there is positive learning and engagement to be had with other countries, practitioners, and disciplines, as it has done since the start of the pandemic …
Under Consideration
#70 —
Recommendation: The Government and the NHS should consider establishing a volunteer reserve database so that volunteers who have had appropriate checks can be rapidly called up and deployed in an emergency rather than needing to begin from scratch.
Gov response: The government accepts this recommendation. The government recognises that volunteers played a vital role in the COVID-19 response and continues to explore options for establishing a volunteer reserve database to enable a rapid call-up and …
Under Consideration
#12 —
Recommendation: There were fundamental failures in the implementation and oversight of the care worker visa route when it was expanded in 2022, which led to unexpectedly high numbers of arrivals in a short space of time. The Home Office significantly underestimated …
Response Pending
#44 —
Recommendation: We recommend that the Government work with Sport England to identify steps that can be taken to streamline volunteer administration. This might include establishing a central register so that qualifications and DBS checks can be carried between sports and activity …
Response Pending
#13 — Mandate educational settings to ensure staff awareness of harassment policies and conduct background checks.
Recommendation: The OfS should also require educational settings to ensure that all staff, permanent, temporary and those visiting, are aware of policies around abuse and harassment, including the consequences of inappropriate behaviour. People invited to teach students should undergo background and …
Gov response: The Department for Education welcomes the Committee’s recommendation. This is a matter for the Office for Students.
Not Addressed
CQC Inspection Actions (153) — showing 50 strongest matches
Chy Byghan Residential Home
The provider must ensure people who use services are protected against the risks associated with unsafe recruitment practices.
Must Do
Chatham House
The provider must ensure people who use the service are fully protected by their recruitment practices, including obtaining application forms and written references for new staff.
Must Do
Chandos Lodge Nursing Home
The provider did not always implement procedures to ensure staff were of a good character prior to them working with adults at risk.
Must Do
Assured Care Formby
Staff were not recruited safely.
Must Do
Trent Lodge Residential Care Home
The provider must ensure service users and others are protected by effective recruitment procedures and practice.
Must Do
St Paul's Lodge
The registered person had failed to ensure that recruitment and selection procedures designed to keep people safe had been correctly followed.
Must Do
Redcot Lodge Residential Care Home
The provider must operate effectively established recruitment procedures to meet the regulations.
Must Do
Park Grange Care Home
We found there were gaps in potential staff's employment history and it was not clear who had been approached to provide a reference.
Must Do
Manor House Care Home
Appropriate recruitment checks were not always undertaken before staff started to work at the service to ensure staff were suitable to work with vulnerable people.
Must Do
Haisthorpe House
The provider must ensure people who used services are protected against receiving care and treatment from staff that are unsuitable to work in the service because the provider has ensured staff are of good character and information about them specified …
Must Do
Benthorn Lodge
The registered person failed to ensure that robust recruitment practices were carried out to ensure only people suitable to work with vulnerable people were recruited.
Must Do
Yanah Care
The provider must ensure that staff are recruited safely and have received induction and training to meet the needs of people receiving support.
Must Do
Wii Care Limited
The provider has failed to establish and operate effective recruitment procedures.
Must Do
West Farm House
Safe recruitment practice was not being followed.
Must Do
Walfinch West Suffolk
The provider must ensure recruitment checks are completed on all new staff to check their suitability or competence to work with vulnerable people prior to commencing employment.
Must Do
Tralee Rest Home
There was no policy in place to address risks associated where previous cautions or convictions were recorded, and a deficiency in recruitment procedures where risk assessments were not completed despite a recorded conviction.
Should Do
Aarondale House
The provider develops a system to ensure relevant checks are made to ensure staff are of good character and suitable for their role prior to employment.
Should Do
The Old Post Office
The provider must complete recruitment checks effectively.
Must Do
The Briars
Recruitment procedures had not been fully established and operated effectively to ensure that persons employed were suitable to work at the service.
Must Do
TerraBlu Homecare
A robust approach to recruitment was not taken make sure only suitable staff with the competence and skills were employed to provide care. This was a breach of Regulation 19 (1)(2)(3).
Must Do
Sundial Cottage Rest Home Ltd
Systems to ensure only fit and proper persons were employed were not sufficiently robust. This was a breach of regulation 19 (Fit and proper persons employed) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014
Must Do
St George's Hotel
We recommend the provider seek reputable advice regarding safe recruitment practices.
Should Do
Spindrift Care Home Limited
The provider had not ensured appropriate checks were undertaken before staff commenced their employment, to confirm they were safe to work with vulnerable people.
Must Do
Shire Oak House
No system in place to ensure staff recruitment measures are taken effectively.
Must Do
Royalcare- Thanet
The provider and registered manager failed to operate effective recruitment processes and ensure information specified in Schedule 3 of the Health and Social Care Act was available for each member of staff.
Must Do
Roky Care Ltd
The provider must ensure recruitment processes are established and operated effectively to ensure people are protected from the risk of harm.
Must Do
Paxigate Healthcare Limited
The required pre-employment checks had not been fully completed to help ensure staff employed were suitable. This included completing a new Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and obtaining additional references.
Must Do
Paxigate Healthcare Limited
Improvements were needed in the recruitment of staff to ensure the provider followed their own policy and procedure.
Must Do
Meadow Green
The provider must ensure fit and proper persons are employed by referring staff who are unsuitable to work with vulnerable groups to the DBS, in line with Regulation 19 (2) (a).
Must Do
M N Pulse Solutions
Improvements were needed in obtaining references.
Must Do
M N Pulse Solutions
Improvements were needed to ensure staff were consistently recruited in a safe way.
Must Do
Lindcare Ltd
The provider must ensure safe staffing and recruitment procedures are established and operated effectively to ensure that persons employed are of good character, including robust recruitment checks, complete employment application forms, and comprehensive references from previous employers.
Must Do
Kingfishers Nursing Home
Recruitment procedures were not established and operated effectively to ensure that fit and proper persons were employed. All information specified in Schedule 3 was not available for each such person employed.
Must Do
Johnstons Homecare Ltd
The provider must ensure that safe recruitment practices are always followed when recruiting staff.
Must Do
Hope Homecare Services Limited
Regulation 19 HSCA RA Regulations 2014 Fit and proper persons employed
Must Do
Heatherdene Residential Care Home
The provider had failed to ensure that robust staff recruitment procedures were followed to ensure only fit and proper persons were employed.
Must Do
Head Office
The provider had failed to ensure that recruitment procedures are established and operated effectively.
Must Do
Gordon Road
The failure to operate recruitment procedures to ensure fit and proper persons were employed.
Must Do
Forge House Services Limited
The registered manager should review the staff file for one staff member and ensure any employment gaps are documented, as CQC could not be assured that there were no employment gaps.
Should Do
Figtree Care Services Ltd
The provider and registered manager failed to ensure robust and safe recruitment practices were in place.
Must Do
Faith's Walk Healthcare Services Ltd
The provider failed to undertake robust recruitment with staff.
Must Do
Eeze Care London
The provider must always operate robust recruitment procedures to ensure that it employs fit and proper persons for the purpose of carrying on the regulated activity.
Must Do
Edwina Place
The provider should seek advice from a reputable source to ensure they gather and record all necessary information for recruitment purposes.
Should Do
Darenth Grange Residential Home
The provider should ensure recruitment checks are fully completed for all staff, including accurate accounts of previous jobs in applications for employment.
Should Do
Christie Care
The provider had failed to carry out complete appropriate employment checks.
Must Do
Chandos Lodge Nursing Home
Systems were either not in place or robust enough to demonstrate staff recruitment checks were effectively managed.
Must Do
Benhall Care
The provider must ensure safe recruitment practices are used to ensure fit and proper staff are employed to provide the regulated activity of personal care.
Must Do
Alde House
The provider and registered manager must ensure all required pre-employment checks are carried out, including routinely checking on the health status of all new candidates.
Must Do
We (Always) Care Under One Roof Limited
The provider must ensure that recruitment procedures are established and operated effectively.
Must Do
Vision Rolleston
Regulation 19 HSCA RA Regulations 2014 Fit and proper persons employed
Must Do
PPO Death in Custody Recommendations (9)
The Head of Healthcare
The Head of Healthcare should ensure that prisoners receive a secondary screen within seven days of their initial reception health screen.
The Head of Healthcare at HMP Wymott
The Head of Healthcare at HMP Wymott should carry out an audit to assure themselves that secondary reception screenings are being completed in accordance with guidance, and report back to the Ombudsman within two months.
The Head of Healthcare
The Head of Healthcare should review the quality and compliance with policy of reception and secondary health screens in the previous 12 months, ensure that prisoners are referred to the mental health team when appropriate, and identify any improvements required.
The Governor
The Governor should review the reception process to understand why staff did not see Mr Faherty’s PER and ensure that reception staff understand how to use this information within the first night screening.
The Operational Manager and Head of Healthcare
The Operational Manager and Head of Healthcare should ensure that staff conducting reception assessments always examine and consider the Person Escort Record, and any other documents that arrive with the prisoner, to assess whether the prisoner has any risk factors …
The Director of HMP Northumberland
The Director should review the process for allocating prisoners to positions of trust, to ensure there is an auditable record that relevant security information and potential risks have been fully considered.
The Director and the Head of Healthcare
The Director and the Head of Healthcare should ensure that reception staff: • are aware of the risk factors that might increase a prisoner’s risk of suicide and self-harm; • consider all relevant documentation that arrives with the prisoner, in …
The Governor (HMP Wandsworth)
The Governor should ensure that the new local foreign national strategy is developed to include actions to identify risk and to provide support for foreign national prisoners who may not proactively engage with existing support provision.
The Governor and Head of Healthcare (HMP Wandsworth)
The Governor and Head of Healthcare should ensure that interpreting services are used properly across HMP Wandsworth, including by: • Ensuring staff use appropriate interpreting services when discussing complex matters with prisoners with limited English. • Implementing monitoring to identify …
IOPC Learning Recommendations (2)
Investigation into recruitment irregularities and the actions of a civilian staff member …
The IOPC recommends that British Transport Police puts in place measures to ensure that the recruitment policy is adhered to. This follows an IOPC investigation which considered two separate recruitment exercises. Although there was a recruitment policy in place, this …
Investigation into recruitment irregularities and the actions of a civilian staff member …
The IOPC recommends that British Transport Police reviews its recruitment policy in light of the issues raised in this investigation and makes amendments to address any areas for improvement. This should include: As part of an IOPC investigation we reviewed …
NAO Audit Recommendations (2)
Civil service leadership capability
g. Cabinet Office should develop a plan for external recruitment as part of its work on the new SCS strategy, reflecting assessments of priority areas (for example for particular skills or organisations) and whether the current system is working. It …
Accepted
NHS England’s modelling for the Long Term Workforce Plan
Recommendation 13: NHSE's modelling should incorporate more realistic assumptions on the minimum level of international recruitment of doctors in future.
Accepted
IMB Annual Reports (4)
London short term holding facilities (STHF) (2025)
This report details the operations of London's Short-Term Holding Facilities (STHFs) from February 2024 to January 2025. While positive aspects include safe environments, respectful staff interactions, and improved medical support, significant concerns persist. These include extended detention times in unsuitable conditions, particularly for children, lack of privacy, and inadequate access to medication and reliable translation services. The IMB makes recommendations to the Minister, UK Border Force/Home Office, and Mitie Care & Custody to address these systemic issues, many of which are recurring from previous reports.
PRISON
Key concerns
South and West short term holding facilities (2025)
This IMB report details monitoring of multiple Short-Term Holding Facilities (STHFs) in the South and West region for the year ending January 2025. Key concerns include inconsistent access to detention records, inadequate healthcare arrangements, and persistent facility issues such as heating and hot water, alongside varied provision of hot food. While the Board notes positive engagement from Border Force staff and some improvements in record-keeping, it highlights areas requiring urgent attention to ensure humane treatment and effective oversight of detained individuals.
PRISON
Key concerns
South and East Short Term Holding Facilities (STHF) (2025)
The South and East IMB report highlights significant concerns regarding the inhumane conditions and inadequate facilities across its Short-Term Holding Facilities. Key issues include severe overcrowding, particularly at Luton and Stansted, where detainees, including vulnerable individuals and families, are held for extended periods without sufficient sleeping provision, privacy, natural light, or exercise areas. The Board also expressed disappointment over persistent maintenance problems, delayed responses to disability access reviews, and the routine, non-compliant use of handcuffs at Luton Airport.
PRISON
Key concerns
North East Midlands, Yorkshire & Humber STHF (2025)
The IMB report for North East Midlands, Yorkshire & Humber STHFs highlights generally positive staff-detainee interactions and a relaxed atmosphere at Swinderby RSTHF, but raises significant concerns across the wider STHF estate. Key issues include inadequate risk identification processes, the inhumane policy of confiscating medication, and the unsuitability of several holding facilities. The Board's ability to monitor effectively is severely hampered by restricted access to records and persistent unresponsiveness from the Home Office regarding critical concerns, including medical confidentiality breaches and emergency response failures.
PRISON
Key concerns
IMB Recommendations (15)
Swinfen Hall (2024)
The HMPPS prison officer appointment process has resulted in some unsuitable appointments. Why are the Governing Governors not permitted to review the suitability of newly appointed band 3 staff prior to their starting the job at the prison?
HMPPS
Wandsworth (2025)
Officer recruitment has been poor, leading to a high turnover of often unsuitable staff. Recruitment is handled centrally. Will the Prison Service consider allowing the prison to become involved in the process so that applicants receive a realistic impression of the role?
HMPPS
Littlehey (2025)
The Board is, again, disappointed that, despite repeated requests for change, the IMB recruitment process continues to be inadequate and inappropriate to support the timely recruitment of candidates with the necessary qualities and skills. Again, the Board is eager to know what improvements the Minister plans to address this issue.
Ministry of Justice
The Mount (2022)
On staffing levels and new recruits, the Prison Service needs to better appraise applicants as to their suitability for the role. A lot of effort and money is wasted when trainees leave because they cannot cope with the environment. Numbers recruited should not be the only measure. The number that finish their training who are still employed 12 months later …
HMPPS
New Hall (2023)
Speedier security and background checks for new recruits to enable them to come into the prison within an appropriate time from initial offer.
HMPPS
Durham (2023)
Why are vetting processes taking so long? The delay has resulted in some successful candidates for healthcare positions taking other posts whilst awaiting clearance. (6.1.2)
HMPPS
Wandsworth (2025)
The quality of new staff recruited centrally was often poor and training was inadequate. What steps are being taken to improve training and reject unsuitable candidates?
Ministry of Justice
Swinfen Hall (2025)
The HMPPS prison officer appointment process continues to result in some unsuitable appointments. As governing governors are not permitted to review the suitability of newly appointed band 3 staff prior to their starting the job at the prison, is the Prison Service accepting that staff appointed lack confidence and competence?
HMPPS
Onley (2025)
Delays in the vetting process are impacting on non-operational appointees taking up employment. The Minister should address these delays.
Ministry of Justice
Swaleside (2025)
The inexperience of staff is compounded by the limited training they receive. This is not sufficient to commence employment. What steps will the Minister take to involve Governors in the recruitment process, and what is the rationale for the exclusion of Governors from the process?
Ministry of Justice
Wandsworth (2023)
Staff recruitment is managed centrally. Would the Service consider involving HMP Wandsworth in the process to ensure that suitable staff are selected and given a realistic understanding of the role, thus reducing staff turnover?
HMPPS
Holme House (2023)
Can the vetting process be speeded up to ensure that new staff are in post without unnecessary delay?
HMPPS
Wandsworth (2024)
Staff recruitment is managed centrally. Would the Service consider involving HMP Wandsworth in the process to ensure that suitable staff are selected and given a realistic understanding of the role, thus reducing staff turnover?
HMPPS
Wandsworth (2024)
Officer recruitment has been poor, leading to a high turnover of often unsuitable staff. Recruitment is handled centrally. Will the Service consider allowing the prison to become involved in the process so that applicants receive a realistic impression of the role?
HMPPS
Birmingham (2025)
What steps will the Prison Service take to increase recruitment whilst also improving the process to include face-to-face interviews for prison officers?
HMPPS
Health Investigations (4)
Themes and lessons learnt from NHS investigations into matters relating … — Rec R11
NHS hospital trusts should review their recruitment, checking, training and general employment processes to ensure they operate in a consistent and robust manner across all departments and functions and that overall responsibility for these matters rests with a single executive director.
national
Accepted
Themes and lessons learnt from NHS investigations into matters relating … — Rec R10
All NHS hospital trusts should ensure that arrangements and processes for the recruitment, checking, general employment and training of contract and agency staff are consistent with their own internal HR processes and standards and are subject to monitoring and oversight by their own HR managers.
national
Accepted
Themes and lessons learnt from NHS investigations into matters relating … — Rec R7
All NHS hospital trusts should undertake DBS checks (including, where applicable, enhanced DBS and barring list checks) on their staff and volunteers every three years. The implementation of this recommendation should be supported by NHS Employers.
national
Accepted
Themes and lessons learnt from NHS investigations into matters relating … — Rec R6
The Home Office should amend relevant legislation and regulations so as to ensure that all hospital staff and volunteers undertaking work or volunteering that brings them into contact with patients or their visitors are subject to enhanced DBS and barring list checks.
national
Not Accepted
LGO / SPSO Decisions (2)
21-011-656 — Aman Care Limited
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a carer. This is because the alleged harassment and stalking by a carer is best dealt with by the Police. And we have no remit to consider the carer’s employment with the care company.
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
Jan 2022
20-014-241 — Surrey County Council
Summary: Mr D complains the Council failed to properly vet a trader. He says as a result he was defrauded out of £17,000, causing him enormous mental distress. We have found no fault.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Not Upheld
Jan 2022