In order to protect the vulnerable and safeguard posts that involve working with children, young people and vulnerable adults, Northamptonshire County Council has a policy of requiring all relevant staff and volunteers to have:

• Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) enhanced level checks, and
• all contracted out Social Care services to be registered with the appropriate regulatory body where eligible, e.g. Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The Commission lays down minimum standards for specified types of service for the following client groups:

• Children and families;
• Child protection;
• Older people;
• People with mental health needs;
• People with physical or sensory disabilities, and for
• People with learning disabilities;

stipulating which types of care require checking of contractor’s staff details.

Full information about National Minimum Standards can be found on the CQC website.

It is a requirement for CRB checks to be carried on all contractor’s / supplier’s staff who have access / contact with vulnerable client groups under the other relevant legislation / government guidance in services that are not registered with regulatory bodies.

CRB checks at the Enhanced Disclosure Level form part of the terms and conditions of our Service Purchase Contract, Contracts with Voluntary organisations and our Contract for Residential and Nursing Care.

When employing Agency Staff, the council’s purchasers will stipulate when ordering whether a current CRB disclosure is required to work in various posts connected with the vulnerable.