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The Professional Standards Authority consults on widening access to criminal records checks for Accredited Registers practitioners

16 Nov 2022

Today, the Authority has published a public consultation on whether in future, Accredited Registers should include access criminal records checks as part of their registration processes. The consultation closes on 7 February 2023.

Criminal record background checks are an important part of safeguarding measures to protect patients and the public. They are conducted by different agencies, depending on where in the UK the work is being carried out.

Being part of the Accredited Registers programme demonstrates a commitment to high standards and public protection which increases public and employer confidence. Some practitioners on an Accredited Register are not subject to a criminal record check by an employer, for example if they are self-employed. We believe there must be confidence in the checks that practitioners have been subject to, and appropriate levels of checks regardless of employment status.

Earlier this year, we completed a pilot to test the practical arrangements for Accredited Registers to access checks in England and Wales, with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and Association of Child Psychotherapists. This showed that despite not being an employer or a statutory body, in some circumstances Accredited Register practitioners are considered as carrying out ‘regulated activity’ meaning they are eligible for the highest level of DBS check.

We want to better understand the impact on Accredited Registers, practitioners, members of the public and people with criminal records on introducing new requirements in this area before we make a decision on whether to update our Standards for Accredited Registers. We will also consider the findings from the Government’s Independent Review of the Disclosure and Barring Regime, which was announced in February 2022. The purpose of the Government’s review is to provide assurance to Ministers about the effectiveness of the disclosure and barring regime in safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. 

A DBS spokesperson said:

‘The Disclosure and Barring Service performs a vital role in helping to protect children, young people and vulnerable adults by supporting organisations, such as the Professional Standards Authority, to make safer suitability decisions.

During the past year, the DBS has provided tailored support and guidance to the Authority, helping enhance its approach to safeguarding the most vulnerable, and we will continue to do so as it approaches its new consultation.’

We are also working with Disclosure Scotland and AccessNI to make sure we develop a consistent UK-wide approach.

How to respond

We welcome views on our proposals, by 7 February 2023.

You can find out more about the consultation here.

ENDS

Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care

Email: media@professionalstandards.org.uk

Notes to the Editor

  1. The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care oversees 10 statutory bodies that regulate health and social care professionals in the UK
  2. We assess their performance and report to Parliament. We also conduct audits and investigations and can appeal fitness to practise cases to the courts if we consider that sanctions are insufficient to protect the public and it is in the public interest.
  3. We also set standards for organisations holding voluntary registers for health and social care occupations and accredit those that meet them.
  4. We share good practice and knowledge, conduct research and introduce new ideas to our sector. We monitor policy developments in the UK and internationally and provide advice on issues relating to professional standards in health and social care.
  5. We do this to promote the health, safety and wellbeing of users of health and social care services and the public. We are an independent body, accountable to the UK Parliament.
  6. Our values are – integrity, transparency, respect, fairness and teamwork – and we strive to ensure that they are at the core of our work.
  7. More information about our work and the approach we take is available at www.professionalstandards.org.uk
  8. More information about the Government’s Independent Review of the Disclosure and Barring Service can be found here: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2022-02-24/hcws633
  9. More information about the Association of Child Psychotherapists can be found at www.childpsychotherapy.org.uk