Poor recruitment checks
Failure to gather and record all necessary information for recruitment purposes, potentially leading to unsuitable staff being hired.
26 items
1 source
5 inquiries
Source spread
Where this theme appears
Poor recruitment checks has been flagged across 1 independent accountability source:
26 inquiry recs
This theme has been identified in one data source. As more data is added, cross-references may emerge.
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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 (26)
62 — Schools notify inspectorate of DBS referrals
Recommendation: The Department for Education and the Welsh Government should: require schools to inform the relevant inspectorate when they have referred a member of staff to the Disclosure and Barring Service, the Teaching Regulation Agency or the Education Workforce Council; and …
No response yet
54 — Lambeth foster carer vetting review
Recommendation: Lambeth Council should review the application of recruitment and vetting procedures for all current foster carers directly provided by Lambeth Council, to ensure that the procedures have been followed correctly. In addition, Lambeth Council should seek assurances from external agencies …
Words of: London Borough of Lambeth, Lambeth Council IICSA Action Plan, approved by Full Council, 15 December 2021
Gov response: 8.3 Make sure our current staff working with children, councillors and our foster carers have appropriate and up-to-date DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) certificates, and implement an online DBS process that enables better monitoring of …
Accepted
36 — Guidance on DBS for overseas work
Recommendation: The Home Office should ensure explanatory guidance is issued, providing clarity to recruiting organisations and individuals concerning the use of the Disclosure and Barring Service scheme for work and volunteering outside the UK.
Words of: HM Government, Government response to the Children Outside the UK phase 2 report by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, published by the Home Office, 21 January 2021
Gov response: 22. The DBS currently signposts applicants to the ICPC if their work abroad makes them ineligible for DBS certificates. The Home Office will work with the DBS to ensure that this message is reinforced in …
Accepted
No update 2+ yrs
35 — Mandatory DBS for work with children overseas
Recommendation: The Home Office should introduce legislation making it mandatory for: (a) all UK nationals and residents of England and Wales to provide a prospective employer overseas with an enhanced DBS certificate before undertaking work with children overseas which if in …
Words of: HM Government, Government response to the Children Outside the UK phase 2 report by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, published by the Home Office, 21 January 2021
Gov response: 18. We have considered carefully the recommendation to introduce legislation to make it mandatory for UK nationals and residents of England and Wales to provide prospective employers with an enhanced DBS certificate before undertaking work …
Not accepted
34 — DBS certificates for overseas work
Recommendation: The Home Office should introduce legislation permitting the Disclosure and Barring Service to provide enhanced certificates to UK nationals and residents of England and Wales applying for: 1. work or volunteering with UK-based organisations, where the recruitment decision is taken …
Words of: HM Government, Government response to the Children Outside the UK phase 2 report by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, published by the Home Office, 21 January 2021
Gov response: 11. The Government shares the Inquiry’s concerns that effective protections should be in place for children abroad. Criminal record checks are an important part of these protections and the Government wants to ensure that overseas …
Not accepted
33 — Assessment of potential risks posed by foster carers and residential care staff
Recommendation: Nottingham City Council should assess the potential risks posed by current and former foster carers directly provided by the council in relation to the sexual abuse of children. They should also ensure that current and former foster carers provided by …
No response yet
31 — DBS and training compliance for Church officers
Recommendation: Individuals engaged in regulated activity who have failed to undergo a DBS check or complete compulsory training should not be permitted to hold voluntary offices within the Church. Failure by ordained clergy to comply with either requirement should result in …
No response yet
FR-11 — Extend Disclosure Regime Overseas
Recommendation: The Inquiry recommends (as originally stated in its Children Outside the United Kingdom Phase 2 Investigation Report, dated January 2020) that the UK government introduces legislation permitting the Disclosure and Barring Service to provide enhanced certificates with barred list checks …
Words of: HM Government, Government response to the final report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (CP 844), presented to Parliament by the Home Secretary, May 2023
Gov response: We accept the need to review whether disclosure arrangements can be further strengthened for those working with children overseas, and we will consider the scope of further strengthening the regime, taking into account the findings …
Accepted in part
In progress
FR-10 — Improve DBS Referral Compliance
Recommendation: The Inquiry recommends that the UK government takes steps to improve compliance by regulated activity providers with their statutory duty to refer concerns about the suitability of individuals to work with children to the Disclosure and Barring Service, including: all …
Words of: HM Government, Government response to the final report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (CP 844), presented to Parliament by the Home Secretary, May 2023
Gov response: We accept the need to improve compliance with statutory duties to inform the Disclosure and Barring Service about individuals who may pose a risk of harm to children. We will work with the relevant bodies …
Accepted in part
In progress
FR-9 — Greater Use of DBS
Recommendation: The Inquiry recommends that the UK government enables any person engaging an individual to work or volunteer with children on a frequent basis to check whether or not they have been barred by the Disclosure and Barring Service from working …
Words of: HM Government, Government response to the final report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (CP 844), presented to Parliament by the Home Secretary, May 2023
Gov response: We accept subject to further assessment of feasibility and impact, taking into account the findings of the Bailey Review of Disclosure and Barring Regime published in April 2023.
Accepted in part
In progress
R9 — GP certification of fitness for NHS employment
Recommendation: We recommend that consideration be given to how General Practitioners might, with the candidate's consent, be asked to certify that there is nothing in the medical history of a candidate for employment in the National Health Service which would make …
Words of: Virginia Bottomley, Secretary of State for Health, in a written answer to Richard Spring MP, House of Commons, 2 November 1994
Gov response: Guidance on occupational health is to be issued shortly which will cover all these recommendations. Together with the English National Board's new guidelines, this guidance will establish better procedures for selection of student nurses for …
Accepted in part
R6 — Sickness records available to occupational health
Recommendation: We recommend that the possibility be reviewed of making available to Occupational Health departments any records of absence through sickness from any institution which an applicant for a nursing post has attended or been employed by (para 5.5.14).
Words of: Virginia Bottomley, Secretary of State for Health, in a written answer to Richard Spring MP, House of Commons, 2 November 1994
Gov response: Guidance on occupational health is to be issued shortly which will cover all these recommendations. Together with the English National Board's new guidelines, this guidance will establish better procedures for selection of student nurses for …
Accepted in part
R5 — Health screening for newly qualified nurses
Recommendation: We recommend that nurses should undergo formal health screening when they obtain their first posts after qualifying (para 5.5.13).
Words of: Virginia Bottomley, Secretary of State for Health, in a written answer to Richard Spring MP, House of Commons, 2 November 1994
Gov response: Guidance on occupational health is to be issued shortly which will cover all these recommendations. Together with the English National Board's new guidelines, this guidance will establish better procedures for selection of student nurses for …
Accepted in part
R4 — No nursing employment where major personality disorder
Recommendation: We recommend that no candidate for nursing in whom there is evidence of major personality disorder should be employed in the profession (para 5.4.11)
Words of: Virginia Bottomley, Secretary of State for Health, in a written answer to Richard Spring MP, House of Commons, 2 November 1994
Gov response: Guidance on occupational health is to be issued shortly which will cover all these recommendations. Together with the English National Board's new guidelines, this guidance will establish better procedures for selection of student nurses for …
Accepted in part
R1 — Sickness-absence record for entrants to nursing
Recommendation: We recommend that for all those seeking entry to the nursing profession, in addition to routine references the most recent employer or place of study should be asked to provide at least a record of time taken off on grounds …
Words of: Virginia Bottomley, Secretary of State for Health, in a written answer to Richard Spring MP, House of Commons, 2 November 1994
Gov response: Recommendation 1. We recommended that, for all those seeking entry to the nursing profession, in addition to routine references the most recent employer or place of study should be asked to provide at leas: a …
Accepted
21 — Nursing staff selection and appraisal
Recommendation: Procedures for the selection and appointment of nursing staff (including internal promotions) should be brought into line with the recommendations of the Report of the National Nursing Staff Committee and a staff appraisal system, as recommended by that Committee, introduced …
Unknown
FR-8 — Registration in Young Offender Institutions
Recommendation: The Inquiry recommends (as originally stated in its Sexual Abuse of Children in Custodial Institutions: 2009-2017 Investigation Report, dated February 2019) that the UK government introduces arrangements for the professional registration of staff in roles responsible for the care of …
Words of: HM Government, Government response to the final report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (CP 844), presented to Parliament by the Home Secretary, May 2023
Gov response: We accept the need for registration, noting that internal registration is most appropriate for the young offender institution and secure training centre workforce. We are exploring proposals for how it could operate.
Accepted in part
In progress
FR-7 — Registration of Care Home Staff
Recommendation: The Inquiry recommends (as originally stated in its Interim Report, dated April 2018) that the UK government introduces arrangements for the registration of staff working in care roles in children's homes, including secure children's homes. Registration should be with an …
Words of: HM Government, Government response to the final report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (CP 844), presented to Parliament by the Home Secretary, May 2023
Gov response: We accept that rigorous registration of staff working in care roles in children’s homes is essential and we are looking at how best to implement this as part of the Stable Homes, Built on Love …
Accepted in part
No update 2+ yrs
27 — Professional registration for custodial care staff
Recommendation: As the Inquiry set out in its Interim Report, professional registration of the workforce in settings responsible for the care of vulnerable children complements regulation of institutions by a separate, independent regulator. The Government has agreed in principle that professional …
No response yet
25 — Amendment of Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
Recommendation: The Chair and Panel recommend that the Home Office ensures that the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 is amended so that, where a fitness to practise hearing has been conducted by the keeper of a relevant register and has resulted …
Words of: HM Government, Government response to the interim report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (Cm 9756), December 2018
Gov response: 60. The Home Office therefore considers that automatic barring would be disproportionate. Further, as the behaviour or incident prompting the fitness to practise hearing will have been referred to the DBS by the employer under …
Not accepted
24 — Registration of children's home care staff
Recommendation: The Chair and Panel recommend that the Department for Education introduces arrangements for the registration of staff working in care roles in children's homes. Registration should be with an independent body charged with setting and maintaining standards of training, conduct …
Words of: HM Government, Government response to the interim report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (Cm 9756), December 2018
Gov response: 56. The Government agrees in principle that further workforce regulation could provide an effective additional means of protecting children. We are mindful that introducing professional registration for all staff in care roles in children’s homes …
Accepted in part
No update 2+ yrs
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.
Words of: Home Office, Bichard Inquiry Recommendations: Progress Report, 22 December 2004
Gov response: The CRB undertook a comprehensive overseas survey in 2002, which was followed by a visit last year to Australia by the Deputy Chief Executive. This identified Australia as not only a high priority, in terms …
Accepted
No update 2+ yrs
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.
Words of: Home Office, Bichard Inquiry Recommendations: Progress Report, 22 December 2004
Gov response: Initial consideration of the current consent statement requirements has been carried out, and it was proposed to incorporate this change within the change for Recommendation 27. However, until the data-sharing agreements with the various relevant …
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.
Words of: Home Office, Bichard Inquiry Recommendations: Progress Report, 22 December 2004
Gov response: As a consequence, a Proposed Change paper has been submitted to the CRB’s principal IT supplier, Capita, with an amended declaration by the registered person to emphasise the countersignatory’s unambiguous responsibility to authenticate any documentation, …
Accepted
RHI-8 — Job-Specific Recruitment
Recommendation: A fundamental shift is needed in the approach used within the Northern Ireland Civil Service with regard to recruitment and selection for government jobs. This must involve an up-front assessment of the skills that are required to fulfil the specific …
Words of: Northern Ireland Executive, Executive Response to the RHI Inquiry Report Recommendations and Action Plan, Annex A, 7 October 2021
Gov response: These recommendations can be accepted in full. They have been addressed through work to date, including: • job-specific appointments within the NICS generalist grades; • the piloting of Cabinet Office’s “Commercial Skills Assessment and Development …
Accepted
No update 2+ yrs
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.
Words of: Home Office, Bichard Inquiry Recommendations: Progress Report, 22 December 2004
Gov response: The CRB raised the necessary changes with its IT supplier, Capita, through the normal PPP Agreement Change Procedure. 6.81 The Contract Change Note has been signed and the change will need to be scheduled into …
Accepted