Bid to ease fears on vetting exemptions

The government has responded to concerns that exemptions to its proposed vetting and barring scheme for staff working with vulnerable people would put service users at risk.

Education minister Lord Adonis said carers of people who lack capacity would be given “strong official encouragement” to have checks carried out on those they employ in the home on behalf of loved-ones.

In a House of Lords debate on the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Bill, he said the guidance would be included in the code of practice for the Mental Capacity Act.

The government also said provisions to exempt some services for vulnerable adults from the scheme, including housing support and social and sporting activities, would be removed after three years.

The delay is intended to give these sectors time to prepare for monitoring. The exemption on people working in alternative and complementary therapies was removed.