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The Criminal Records Bureau’s is to more than double the charge for police checks on social care staff from this month.

The fee for enhanced disclosures will rise from £13 to £29 and standard ones from £12 to £24.

Social care organisations  complained about the short notice of the decision and the lack of consultation and the poor service that the CRB has provided so far.

“There is no justification for any increase in fees by an agency which has made such a pig’s ear of it,” said Registered Nursing Home Association chief executive Frank Ursell. He complained that 125 applications to the bureau made by his members were still outstanding 12 months later. 

Erica De’Ath, chief executive of the National Council of Voluntary Child Care Organisations, said the budgets of voluntary organisations  had already been set and contracts with local authorities agreed.

She said: “It is unlikely organisations will be able to go back to councils – the money will have to come from somewhere else.”
However, a Bupa spokesperson said the care homes sector would be forced to “look to councils to pay a realistic price for care” as a result.

CRB managing director John O’Brien said the increases were needed because “after a year’s operation, the current charge is not the operational cost”.