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Pre and post employment checks
High profile cases have underlined the need for rigorous pre and post employment checks in the NHS. It is vital that staff can be trusted, and these procedures aim to assess both candidates at the pre-appointment stage, and staff working in the NHS. Updated guidance from NHS Employers is currently (November 2007)under review and will be published shortly.
Safer recruitment: a guide for NHS employers
Published: 13 May 2005; Gateway reference number 4975.
This guidance, which replaces HSC 2002/008, provides clear guidelines on thorough pre-appointment checks for potential new employees. It gives HR staff clear guidelines on how to carry out thorough pre-appointment checks on potential new employees. The guidance includes information on what checks need to be carried out, including checks on identify, qualifications, criminal records, registration and entitlement to work in the UK. There is also advice on what checks need to be carried out on existing staff.
The new guidance replaces directions issued three years ago by the Department of Health. They apply to all NHS employers, including NHS foundation trusts, GPs and dentists, and to all appointments, including employees, volunteers, students and contractors.
The new guidelines cover mandatory checks required by law and also checks that are considered appropriate under the Department of Health's Standards for Better Health. The Healthcare Commission will be responsible for monitoring trusts' compliance with carrying out the checks.
Guidance on Criminal Records Bureau disclosures
The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) launched its Disclosure service in March 2002, which now means that information about criminal convictions and other police records are more widely available than before. This guidance will give you an overview of the different types of Disclosures, what level of Disclosure is required for different posts, where to find out more information, and the help and support that NHS Employers can provide.
The Protection of Children Act 1999: A practical guide to the Act for all organisations working with children
The Protection of Children Act is an important first step towards the Government's aim of establishing a framework of a coherent cross-sector scheme for identifying those people considered to be unsuitable to work with children. This guidance reflects a number of changes that were made to the Protection of Children Act 1999 by the Care Standards Act 2000.
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Criminal Records Bureau
The role of the Criminal Records Bureau is to reduce the risk of abuse by ensuring that those who are unsuitable are not able to work with children and vulnerable adults
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