Voluntary sector set to challenge fees hike for police checks on staff

It says that the lower level standard check is suitable for people
who have regular contact with children or vulnerable adults but do
not work with them.

However, in a consultation document published earlier this month,
the Criminal Records Bureau proposes that the standard level of
disclosure is sufficient for existing care home staff.

It considers this lower level check suitable “in the short term”
for staff who have been continuously employed in the same care home
since April 2002.

Staff with a standard level check will need a further check at
enhanced level if they move to a different care home.

l Consultation from www.crb.gov.uk Comments to the CRB by 31 July.
The National Council for Voluntary Organisations is considering
challenging the government over the hike in Criminal Records Bureau
fees.

A spokesperson for the NCVO said it would be writing to the home
secretary David Blunkett to complain about the increase in the cost
of applying for a CRB police check, which will rise next month from
£12 to £24 for a standard disclosure and £13 to
£29 for an enhanced one (news, page 8, 12 June).

The challenge is to be made by the compact advocacy programme,
which includes a number of guidelines on the notice period
government should give the voluntary sector when changing rules.
However, there was no consultation with the sector over the
increases.

“This seems a clear breach of the compact,” a spokesperson said.

Earlier this month, the programme won its first two cases against
the Department of Transport and the Department for Envir-onment,
Food and Rural Affairs over individual funding decisions (news,
page 13, 12 June).

Meanwhile, care home providers have been left confused as to the
level of criminal records check required for their staff after
conflicting messages from the government agencies concerned.

The National Care Standards Commission has warned providers to “get
the right criminal records checks”, stating that an enhanced check
is needed for people who run services for children or vulnerable
adults or care for them in their job.

It says that the lower level standard check is suitable for people
who have regular contact with children or vulnerable adults but do
not work with them.

However, in a consultation document published earlier this month,
the Criminal Records Bureau proposes that the standard level of
disclosure is sufficient for existing care home staff.

It considers this lower level check suitable “in the short term”
for staff who have been continuously employed in the same care home
since April 2002.

Staff with a standard level check will need a further check at
enhanced level if they move to a different care home.

– Consultation from www.crb.gov.uk Comments to the CRB
by 31 July.