No to barring board therapy referrals

An MP has failed in an attempt to ensure under-18s banned from working with children are automatically referred to therapeutic treatment.

Liberal Democrat Annette Brooke told the committee stage of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Bill that the independent barring board to be set up by the legislation should have to refer these young people to therapy because the service is difficult to access.

But education minister Parmjit Dhanda said the measure would be inconsistent with the board’s primary role of maintaining the lists of people barred from working with children and vulnerable adults.

He also said many services that came into contact with young people before they reached the barring board would be better placed to refer them.