Care Standards Update
Edition No. 18 - April 2002
Introduction
As was predicted by all of the national associations, the introduction of police checks is proving to be a nightmare. This has resulted in the need for the National Care Standards Commission to introduce some interim guidance in relation to meeting the National Minimum Standards concerning recruitment.
We, as an umbrella body, are also experiencing some difficulty in our contact with the Criminal Records Bureau which is driven by the lack of information they provide.
Members who have already registered with the Registered Nursing Home Association to use our umbrella body service have been sent a guidance manual on how to use our service.
This Care Standards Update seeks to address three particular issues:
• Police checks for matrons
• Interim guidance from the National Care Standards Commission
• Guidance for Disclosure applicants.
1. Police Checks for Matrons
The process of registering care managers (matrons) with the National Care Standards Commission requires the applicant to initiate a police check, which is done by telephoning the Criminal Records Bureau.
In order for the Criminal Records Bureau to meet the request for an application form they need the 11 digit registered body number of the organisation requesting the check - i.e. the National Care Standards Commission.
The umbrella body forms provided by the Registered Nursing Home Association should not be used for this purpose.
Those who need to undertake such police checks should contact the local area office of the National Care Standards Commission for advice.
Once you have received an application form and completed the details required you must take it with the identity documents to the local area office of the National Care Standards Commission for them to complete sections X and Y.
1. Criminal Records Bureau Checks
Guidance from the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC). This guidance is for care homes only.
The National Care Standards Commission recognises the current dilemma for care home providers in recruiting and appointing new care staff whilst the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) are dealing with the backlog of applications made to them.
Providers are naturally anxious that if they do not have sufficient staff who are skilled, competent and most importantly - suitable to care for vulnerable people, that they will be penalised by the NCSC in the course of their regulatory duties and furthermore outstanding registration applications will be delayed in terms of processing.
The NCSC is sympathetic to providers and these problems. In order to manage the current situation until the CRB is fully operational, the NCSC is issuing the following interim guidance:
Before taking on any new care staff the provider MUST ensure that the following essential steps are taken:
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All staff recruited to a care home (care, ancillary and managerial) must be subjected to robust and rigorous employment processes. These will involve the completion of a detailed application form, the taking up of written references one of which must be the most recent employer. Providers will make verbal contact with the most recent employer to clarify the content and to receive fuller details. CVs / or detailed employment history, will cover at least the last ten years of employment and all applicants will provide explanation for any gaps in this. All stated qualifications will be verified by seeing the original certificates.
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The provider must take steps to verify that all applicants for employment are physically and mentally suitable to care for vulnerable people.
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On entry to service, all staff should complete, sign and date a personal declaration that they do not possess, nor have they ever possessed a criminal conviction, nor have they been subject to any conditional discharges, bindovers or cautions (N.B. people who are likely to have substantial access to vulnerable people cannot regard any past criminal as 'spent') thus the person must declare all convictions past and present. Providers should also make it clear in any offer of employment, that in the event that this declaration is found to be false that the person's employment could be terminated immediately.
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A copy of the applicant's signed declaration should be lodged with the local NCSC office until such time as the applicant is cleared by the CRB when this copy will be returned to the provider / applicant.
All the above are seen as essential good employment practice and most are required under the provisions of the Care Standards Act 2000 and associated Regulations.
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During the interim period whilst a CRB check is being undertaken the provider should ensure that the new recruit is assigned to an established member of staff. Under no circumstances should they have unsupervised access to vulnerable people.
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The provider undertakes to take full accountability and responsibility for the actions of any person taken on with the service during the period whilst clearance by the CRB is being awaited.
NCSC inspectors when undertaking their first inspection to registered care homes will verify that all these processes have been thoroughly carried out.
Please note that this is Interim Guidance Only and this will be reviewed shortly, once the NCSC has a clearer idea as to the throughput of applications to the CRB. This Guidance is not applicable to any children's service.
If you have any specific queries relating to CRB checks please contact them direct on:
Criminal Records Bureau, PO Box 110, Liverpool L3 6ZZ - Tel: 0870 90 90 844
If you have any specific enquiry about this advice please contact the Adult Services Directorate at the following address:
Adult Services Directorate, NCSC, St Nicholas Building, St Nicholas Street, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 1NB.
3. Guidance for Disclosure Applicants
The Criminal Records Bureau provides the following guidance to all of those who are required to undertake a police check.
Q. How do I apply for a Disclosure ?
A. There are two ways of applying for a Disclosure. You will either be asked to:
• Telephone the Disclosure application line on 0870 90 90 844, or
• Complete an application form provided by a registered body
Q. What information do I need to give ?
A. You will first be asked to provide
• An 11 digit Registered Body number, you can obtain this from the person who asked you to apply for the Disclosure;
• Your full name and any other name that you may have been known by;
• The addresses where you have lived during the past five years;
• Your date and place of birth;
• Your National Insurance number;
• And other information such as passport / driving licence details.
Q. Who will receive my Disclosure ?
A. You will receive your Disclosure in the post. A copy of the Disclosure will also be sent to the person who countersigned the Disclosure application form. This person will have been registered with the CRB, and as such, has agreed to comply with the Codes of Practice.
Q. When will I receive my Disclosure ?
A. The CRB aims to process 95% of Standard Disclosure applications within one week and 90% of Enhanced Disclosure applications within three weeks of the CRB receiving the completed application form, together with any additional information requested.
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