Criminal records search delayed

The Criminal Records Bureau is due to “go
live” this week, but the delay since its planned launch last July
has already impacted on the operation of the National Care
Standards Commission, due to launch in April.

The CRB is the government’s new “one-stop
shop” for criminal records checks, providing access to the Police
National Computer, local police force information and intelligence,
and, where relevant, Department of Health and Department for
Education and Skills lists.

From March, registered organisations already
using police and child protection checks can apply for high level
criminal records checks on employees working with children or
vulnerable adults, with the scheme being extended in April to all
registered bodies.

But the delay means the NCSC – which will
regulate and inspect care services – has had to accept that the
registration of care service providers, which must take place by
the end of March in most cases, will have to go ahead without staff
criminal record checks. Area offices will chase up providers about
the checks when the NCSC progresses local registration
applications.