Poor recruitment checks
Failure to gather and record all necessary information for recruitment purposes, potentially leading to unsuitable staff being hired.
24 items
1 source
3 inquiries
Source spread
Where this theme appears
Poor recruitment checks has been flagged across 1 independent accountability source:
24 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 (24)
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 …
Gov response: On 30 June 2022, the UK government stated that it was cautious about creating a reporting mechanism that only related to the Disclosure and Barring Service and Teaching Regulation Agency when its position in Keeping …
Accepted in Part
No update 2+ yrs
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 …
Gov response: On 15 December 2021, Lambeth Council stated that staff working with children, councillors and foster carers had appropriate and up-to-date Disclosure and Barring Service certificates. It also stated that it would implement an online Disclosure …
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.
Gov response: On 21 January 2021, the Home Office stated that the Disclosure and Barring Service signposts applicants to the International Child Protection Certificate if their work abroad makes them ineligible for Disclosure and Barring Service certificates. …
Accepted
No update 2+ yrs
35 — Mandatory DBS for work with children overseas
Recommendation: The Home Office should introduce legislation making it mandatory for: 1. all UK nationals and residents of England and Wales to provide a prospective employer overseas with an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service certificate before undertaking work with children overseas …
Gov response: On 21 January 2021, the Home Office stated that although part 1 of this recommendation envisaged placing the legal obligation of providing overseas employers with an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service certificate on UK nationals, …
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 …
Gov response: On 21 January 2021, the Home Office stated that the UK government would continue to work with ACRO to publicise the existence of the International Child Protection Certificate, and to improve employers' understanding of the …
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 …
Gov response: Nottingham City Council: On 20 December 2021, Nottingham City Council stated that an internal fostering review was complete. External assurance of the review was also complete. The review concluded that no further referrals were required …
Accepted
31 — DBS and training compliance for Church officers
Recommendation: Individuals engaged in regulated activity who have failed to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service 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 …
Gov response: On 27 June 2019, the Church of England agreed that those in regulated roles who have failed to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service check or complete mandatory safeguarding training should not be allowed to …
Accepted
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 …
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
No update 2+ yrs
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 …
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
No update 2+ yrs
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 …
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 nhs which would make them unsuitable …
Unknown
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).
Unknown
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).
Unknown
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 this profession (para 5.4.11)
Unknown
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 …
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 …
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
No update 2+ yrs
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 …
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 …
Gov response: On 5 November 2021, the Ministry of Justice stated that it had reviewed the evidence it collected through a targeted consultation on professional registration. On 4 May 2022, the Ministry of Justice stated that it …
Accepted in Part
No update 2+ yrs
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 …
Gov response: The DBS is in the process of establishing single points of contact at a strategic level with all Keepers of Registers and Supervisory Authorities. By the end of August, the DBS will have had meetings …
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 …
Gov response: 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 would …
Not Accepted
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