Charity attacks delay on abuser list

Older people’s charity Action on Elder Abuse has warned that the
decision to postpone the introduction of the Protection of
Vulnerable Adults list could have dangerous consequences.

The charity’s chief executive Gary FitzGerald said: “Employers will
have no safe way of confirming that potential employees are not
serial abusers.”

The list was to be set up according to Part VII of the Care
Standards Act 2000. It would name individuals judged unsuitable to
work with vulnerable adults. Those who mistreated vulnerable adults
in their care would be put on the list and banned from working in a
similar position again.

The decision to delay the introduction of the list was announced by
Home Office minister Lord Falconer earlier this month.