Criminal checks for home care workers introduced

Charities working with vulnerable adults have welcomed the
introduction of criminal record checks for all home care workers,
writes Amy Taylor.

From 1 October 2003, enhanced disclosure checks will be needed
before a new domiciliary care or nurse agency worker can take up
their placement.

Checks on domiciliary care and nursing agency staff were
postponed indefinitely last November when it became apparent that
the Criminal Records Bureau was unable to cope with demand.

For existing home care staff, applications for checks will need
to be submitted to the CRB between 1 October and 30 November and
will be processed by the end of June 2004.

Deadlines for checks for care home workers employed before 1
April 2002, which were also postponed in November, have been bought
forward again from October 2004 to 30 June 2004. They will be
carried out at the standard level of disclosure “in order to
make the best use of the CRB’s increased capacity”, the
home office said.