During a check to make sure that the improvements required had been made
.
The provider responded with an action plan and details of a revised recruitment policy. This included more robust procedures with regards to employing family members and the process that must be adhered to in those circumstances. They also updated their risk assessment on ex-offenders. This included ensuring all discussions regarding criminal convictions were in written form and logged on interview. We saw the policy regarding employment of family members had also been added to the Employee Handbook so all staff were aware of the procedures they must follow when recommending family members for employment.
We contacted the provider who was able to confirm that the new procedures were fully part of the revised recruitment process.
We were satisfied that the new procedures put in place meant that people using the service were no longer at risk because staff were no longer appointed without a proper and clearly recorded assessment of their suitability for the post.