Legal Experts help employers select staff safely

Employment experts are helping employers to make safer decisions when recruiting staff by providing vital checks to protect children and other vulnerable groups.

The Criminal Records Bureau has registered Employment Law Advisory Services (ELAS) as an official Umbrella Body, allowing them to furnish firms with relevant details about job applicants.

The firmís Head of Personnel, Pamela Rogerson, said: ìCRB checks are a necessary part of business life today. Every responsible employer needs to ensure their staff are dependable, trustworthy and safe.

ìOur new service is a cost-effective way to help firms protect themselves, while also reducing the risk to the wider public too. It lends reassurance to the process of recruitment.î

ELAS provide three different types of disclosure to meet the requirements of all sectors of business.

Standard disclosure contains details held on the Police National Computer including current and ëspentí convictions, as well as any cautions, reprimands or final warnings

This check will show whether information is held on three government lists of those banned from working with children or vulnerable adults.

Enhanced disclosure is for positions involving a greater degree of contact with such people. In general, this type of work will involve regularly caring for, supervising, training or being in sole charge of children or vulnerable adults.

In this instance, there is an additional security procedure – a check on local police records.

Voluntary disclosure is made where there is no legal requirement for a CRB check, but employers wish to exceed the industry standard.

ELAS, one of the UKís leading employment law consultancies, provide guidance to thousands of companies, from small local firms to multi-national corporations. This association with the CRB is a new venture.

Annabel Dawkins, the firmís Marketing Manager, said: ìWe are constantly striving to expand the range of services we offer clients to help them protect their businesses in the best possible way.

ìWe are also very much aware of the need to provide added value in the current economic climate.î