REC takes forward concerns over Criminal Records Bureau checks

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) has written to the Home Office Minister to take forward the recruitment industryís concerns over the Governmentís proposals to withdraw the Portability Service for Criminal Records Bureauís (CRB) Disclosures.



Recruitment agencies play a key role in ensuring that CRB checks are received for all workers who come into direct or indirect contact with children or vulnerable adults. The backlogs in receiving these checks have often caused substantial problems and delays and there is real concern that removing the portability service will make things substantially worse.

Under the current system workers are entitled to use the same CRB check when they move from one agency to another. The new proposals would require a new CRB disclosure to be obtained and paid for each time a worker registers with a different agency.

Commenting on the Governmentís proposals, Tom Hadley, REC Director of External Relations, said:

These proposals will have a profound effect on the way in which the recruitment industry is able to respond to market demand in the future and consequently on many of the public services that it supplies to. Ensuring that the necessary statutory checks are carried out is absolutely crucial and one of the key reasons for using reputable recruitment agencies. At the same time, the process of supplying temporary staffing solutions is by definition a fast moving business requiring maximum flexibility on the part of both the employment business and the temporary worker.

Hadley continues:

Anything that holds up the temporary workerís ability to move swiftly around the market place inhibits their ability to respond to job opportunities and earn a living. Equally, where employment businesses are prevented from responding swiftly to market demands, those markets will experience staff shortages as a result. At particular risk are the NHS and many Local Education Authorities (LEAs).

REC has canvassed the views of its members and the initial response received is very clear in its concerns. These are set out in brief below:

- The proposal to withdraw the portability service will limit the ability of all affected childcare, nursing, caring, medical and education professionals to find jobs, particularly locum positions, by imposing additional costs on their job search, and this in well known areas of profound skills shortages;

- Given the number of positions that locum professionals apply for and the number of employment businesses they are on the books of, portability is a vital tool in these markets;

- There is certainly scope for reviewing the effectiveness of the current process. Channelling portability checks through Registered Bodies is impracticable because these bodies are often other employment businesses which are in direct competition with those using their services;

- Each CRB check entails a fee to be paid by the applicant. There is a widespread perception that any moves to withdraw the portability of CRB checks is simply a means of ensuring that the process generates more revenue.