Staff suitability and fitness
Failure to ensure that employed staff possess good character, necessary qualifications, skills, experience, and physical and mental fitness for their roles.
119 items
1 source
26 inquiries
Source spread
Where this theme appears
Staff suitability and fitness has been flagged across 1 independent accountability source:
119 inquiry recs
This theme has been identified in one data source. As more data is added, cross-references may emerge.
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 (119) — showing 50 strongest matches
24 — Statutory qualifications for managers and surveyors
Recommendation: The statutory qualifications for managers and surveyors should be amended (Paragraph 295).
Unknown
16 — Soil mechanics for managers and surveyors
Recommendation: Managers and surveyors should as soon as possible be made aware of the rudiments of soil mechanics and ground-water conditions. The statutory qualifications for managers and surveyors should be amended to include awareness of the rudiments of soil mechanics and …
Unknown
22 — Service after retirement age
Recommendation: The extension of service after retirement age should be most carefully considered in each individual case and regularly reviewed.
Unknown
38 — Suitable calibre and training of managers
Recommendation: Hospital managers shall be of a suitable background and calibre for the role expected of them, provided with all necessary training (including continued education) and themselves regularly appraised for the quality of their performance.
Unknown
35 — Clinical experience for managers
Recommendation: No clinician shall be appointed to a position of managerial authority in a hospital without having relevant clinical experience for the position.
Unknown
25 — Joint disciplinary procedure
Recommendation: There shall be a joint procedure for disciplinary action against an individual perceived to be failing. It shall contain provision for immediate suspension from patient care as a minimum, irrespective of academic requirements and positions.
Unknown
24 — Joint job description for clinical academics
Recommendation: A single job description for clinical academics shall be drawn up jointly to represent a fair and realistic expectation of the work envisaged by both parties.
Unknown
22 — Fair representation in clinical academic posts
Recommendation: The appointment of clinical academics shall be approached with fair representation on each side reflecting the proposed split between clinical and academic sessions.
Unknown
173 — Child care expertise not for all social workers
Recommendation: It should be recognised that the area of child abuse in general and child sexual abuse in particular is an area of expertise into which not all members of the profession should necessarily enter (19.9).
Unknown
98 — Selection criteria for OIMs
Recommendation: The operator’s criteria for selection of OIMs, and in particular their command ability, should form part of its SMS (para 20.59).
Unknown
94 — Standby vessel crew age and fitness
Recommendation: The proposals in the amended code as to age limit, medical examination and certification of fitness of members of the crew of standby vessels; and as to their periods of duty are endorsed (paras 20.51-52).
Unknown
41 — Control Room manning and qualification
Recommendation: The Control Room should at all times be in the charge of a person trained and qualified to undertake the work of Control Room operator. The Control Room should be manned at all times (para 18.35).
Unknown
7 — Adopt hours of work rules as guidelines for Class V vessels
Recommendation: The statutory requirements in the Merchant Shipping (Safe Manning, Hours of Work and Watchkeeping) Regulations 1997 should be adopted by owners of Class V passenger vessels as guidelines. They should also note the requirements of STCW95, Section A-VIII/1 regarding fitness …
Unknown
6 — Monitor crew hours for fatigue
Recommendation: Owners and operators should monitor and review the hours of work of their employees in order to ensure that they are not affected by fatigue.
Unknown
4 — Carry out random testing
Recommendation: Owners and operators should in fact carry out random testing because of its deterrent effect.
Unknown
3 — Random testing in contracts
Recommendation: Such contracts should permit random testing for alcohol and drugs, with appropriate penalties if levels of alcohol or drugs in excess of those permitted by the contract (if any) are found or in the case of a refusal to supply …
Unknown
2 — Operator alcohol and drugs policies
Recommendation: Owners and operators of all vessels should have an active alcohol and drugs policy and include provisions in their contracts of employment relating to permitted levels of alcohol and drugs, if any.
Unknown
FP79 — Recommendation 79
Recommendation: Absence of authorisation under the Act should not be taken as disqualifying a witness from being treated as an expert in relation to fingerprint evidence. The witness should be prepared to demonstrate his or her expert status on ordinary common …
No response yet
FP78 — Recommendation 78
Recommendation: The system of registration on the National Register of Fingerprint Experts should be reviewed. If it continues in use it should be revised to ensure that the criteria for registration and the records are kept up to date and that …
No response yet
FP77 — Recommendation 77
Recommendation: A system should be devised whereby any authorisation of fingerprint examiners under section 280 would be confined to the authorisation of individuals who are employed by an institution which has achieved appropriate accreditation. It would be for the Scottish Government …
No response yet
FP76 — Recommendation 76
Recommendation: The system for authorisation under section 280 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, so far as relating to fingerprint examiners, requires review.
No response yet
13 — Accountability and regulation of managers
Recommendation: i. DHSC and NHS England must develop and put in place a barring system for all managers (clinical and non-clinical) by September 2027. It should be reviewed in 2030 with a view to moving to a full statutory regulation system …
Words of: Yvette Cooper, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, oral statement to the House of Commons, 15 September 2026 (text as published on GOV.UK)
Gov response: It recommends new regulation on NHS managers, not just on clinical professionals. The government has consulted on and confirmed plans to apply a barring scheme to senior leaders and managers, not just to clinicians, so …
Accepted in part
In progress
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
63 — Extend TRA jurisdiction to teaching assistants
Recommendation: The Department for Education should amend the Teachers' Disciplinary (England) Regulations 2012 to bring all teaching assistants, learning support staff and cover supervisors within the misconduct jurisdiction of the Teaching Regulation Agency. The Department for Education and the Welsh Government …
No response yet
42 — Church in Wales provincial safeguarding officers
Recommendation: The Church in Wales should make clear that the operational advice of provincial safeguarding officers must be followed by all members of the clergy and other Church officers. It should be enshrined in policy that those who are volunteers and …
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
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
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
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
R7 — Criteria for management referrals to occupational health
Recommendation: We recommend that procedures for management referrals to Occupational Health should make clear the criteria which should trigger such referrals (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
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
F191 — Recruitment for values and commitment
Recommendation: Healthcare employers recruiting nursing staff, whether qualified or unqualified, should assess candidates' values, attitudes and behaviours towards the well-being of patients and their basic care needs, and care providers should be required to do so by commissioning and regulatory requirements.
Speaker not recorded. Source: Department of Health, Hard Truths: the Journey to Putting Patients First, volume 2 (Cm 8777-II), November 2013
Gov response: Accepted. The Government’s Mandate to Health Education England contained a requirement to ensure that selection into all new NHS-funded training posts incorporates testing of values-based recruitment. NHS England is working with Health Education England and …
Accepted
In progress
BAHA-73 — Retaining Detention Expertise
Recommendation: In reducing the number of firm base unit custody facilities, the MoD should be careful not to erode the unit level operational detention expertise which is provided to a Battlegroup by the attendance of unit provost staff on the AAUCSC, …
Words of: Liam Fox, Secretary of State for Defence, statement to the House of Commons, 8 September 2011 (HC Deb vol 532 col 571), as published by the Ministry of Defence
Gov response: I can inform this House that I am accepting in principle all of his recommendations with one reservation.
Accepted in part
COVID-M2.1 — NI CMO Independence
Recommendation: The Department of Health (Northern Ireland) should reconstitute the role of the Chief Medical Officer for Northern Ireland as an independent advisory role. The Chief Medical Officer for Northern Ireland should not have managerial responsibilities within the Department of Health …
Words of: Northern Ireland Executive, Executive Response to the Covid-19 Module 2 Report March 2026, 18 March 2026
Gov response: Accepted Following restructuring of the Department of Health in November 2023, the Population Health Directorate, the Health Protection Directorate, the Emergency Planning Resilience and Response Directorate and the Quality, Safety and Improvement Directorate were moved …
Unknown
172 — Three-year qualification course
Recommendation: A three-year qualification course for social workers should be introduced as soon as possible (19.8).
Unknown
169 — Self-governing social work profession
Recommendation: ADSW should consider the taking of appropriate initiatives to develop a centralised self-governing profession of social worker in Scotland (19.4).
Unknown
15 — Training for those managing tips
Recommendation: Men engaged in the daily management and control of tips should be trained for their responsibilities (Paragraph 295).
Unknown
24 — GWT records of maintenance staff competencies
Recommendation: GWT should maintain full records of competencies for all maintenance staff as required by job descriptions and safety responsibility statements (paras 6.8, 15.6).
Unknown
21 — Controllers' posts designated safety-critical
Recommendation: Controllers’ posts in Railtrack and TOCs should be designated as “safety-critical” as defined in the Railways (Safety Critical Works) Regulations 1994 (para 9.15).
Unknown
36 — Training before taking management control
Recommendation: No clinician should take effective control of a management position until trained in all necessary management techniques and in any relevant legal requirements.
Unknown
26 — Formal joint annual appraisal
Recommendation: There shall be formal annual appraisal of an individual by both parties. They shall share their information in line with the duty of utmost good faith in order to draw up a joint statement of aims in the following 12 …
Unknown
121 — Limit interviews per interviewer per day
Recommendation: No more than two investigative interviews per interviewer per day should be undertaken and their workloads should be regularly monitored (17.61).
Unknown
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
R8 — Apply ANHSOP Chairman's suggestion in practice
Recommendation: We recommend that further consideration be given to how the suggestion of the Chairman of the Association of NHS Occupational Physicians (see para 5.5.16) could be applied in practice (para 5.5.17).
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
WATE-(24) — Mandate stringent, independent vetting for all foster parent applications, especially staff
Recommendation: Similar vigilance should be mandatory in relation to all applications for approval as foster parents. In particular, any application to foster by a member of a local authority's child care staff should be stringently vetted by a social worker who …
Unknown
WATE-(23) — Periodically audit Social Services staff recruitment and management vigilance
Recommendation: Social Services Departments should be reminded periodically that they must exercise vigilance in the recruitment and management of their staff in strict accordance with the detailed recommendations of the Warner committee917; and compliance with them by individual local authorities should …
Unknown