Author
GREAT BRITAIN . Department of Health.
Title
Protection of Vulnerable Adults Scheme in England and Wales for adult placement schemes, domiciliary care agencies and care homes: a practical guide.
Publisher
Great Britain. Department of Health, 2006
Summary
This guidance includes reference to pre-employment checks for domiciliary care providers and managers and pre-employment checks for adult placement scheme providers and managers.
Context
The Government is determined that vulnerable adults should be afforded the greatest protection possible from harm. In addition to raising standards of care through National Service Frameworks, regulating providers of care in a more thorough and consistent way than hitherto, and introducing national minimum standards for regulated care services, the Government has taken action to specifically address the abuse of vulnerable adults.
Contents
A foreword declares that the Protection of Vulnerable Adults (POVA) scheme will act as a workforce ban on those professionals who have harmed vulnerable adults in their care. It will add an extra layer of protection to the pre-employment processes, including Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks, which already take place and stop known abusers from entering the care workforce. Along with initiatives such as 'No secrets' and 'In safe hands' and other specific measures to prevent and tackle adult abuse, it will complement the Government's drive to raise standards across health and social care.
A section on the background and overview of implementation starts with an introduction explaining that the scheme, set out in Care Standards Act 2000, was implemented on a phased basis from 26 July 2004, and that at its heart is the POVA list, through which care workers who have harmed a vulnerable adult or placed one at risk of harm will be banned from working in a care position with vulnerable adults.
It explains the categories of carer with regard to whom the scheme is currently implemented, and defines providers of care, harm, regular contact and personal care. This is followed by an o verview, discussion of the NHS and independent health care sectors and the role of councils, and the significance of 'No secrets' and 'In safe hands'.
A section on checks against the POVA list asks w ho is checked? and discusses employment agencies and businesses, nurses agencies, when POVA checks should be made, individuals in care positions on 26 July 2004, employment, making checks against the POVA list, CRB disclosures, and employment pending CRB disclosures and POVA First checks, ending with a reference to a flowchart of how checks of the POVA list should work on the Internet.
There follows a chapter on referring persons for inclusion on the POVA list, covering r eferral of individuals by providers, employment agencies, employment businesses, the Commission for Social Care Inspection and Care Standards Inspectorate for Wales, referral of individuals from certain inquiries. referral following police charges, information to be provided with a referral, where referrals are to be sent, and procedures under 'No secrets' and 'In safe hands'. Implications for individuals and for providers of care of inclusion on the POVA list are discussed in the next section.
The following chapter is about provisional inclusion on the POVA list, possible provisional inclusion on the Protection of Children Act (POCA) list, action following provisional listing, care workers suspended or temporarily removed to a non-care position, appeals against provisional listing (Care Standards Tribunal), and regulatory bodies.
The chapter on confirmed listing has an introduction and information on the Secretary of State's power to remove an individual from the list, appeal to the Care Standards Tribunal, and application for review of inclusion on the POVA list.
A final section explains where the guidance and related material can be found and gives an e-mail address for queries. Annexes give definitions, examples of where checks against the POVA list will be required, and pre-employment and training and supervision requirements.