Every homecare agency has to be able to show that the people it sends into clients’ homes are safe to do the job. For most care workers that means an enhanced DBS check with a check of the adults’ barred list, a valid Right to Work check, and up-to-date training. Getting these right at recruitment is only half the job; keeping them current is where agencies most often slip.
DBS checks
- Care workers in regulated activity with adults need an enhanced DBS check that includes the adults’ barred list.
- Record the certificate number and issue date on the staff record, and decide in your policy how often checks are renewed.
- Encourage staff to join the DBS Update Service, which lets you check online whether anything has changed since the certificate was issued.
Right to Work checks
- Complete the check before the person starts work, using the correct method for their status, and keep a record of when and how it was done.
- Where someone has time-limited permission to work in the UK, a follow-up check is needed before that permission runs out.
- Follow the current Home Office guidance for employers, which is updated from time to time.
Training
- Keep a record of each person’s induction and mandatory training, with dates.
- Set a renewal date for each course so refreshers are booked before they lapse.
Make expiry dates impossible to miss
The common thread is dates. A spreadsheet can hold them, but it will not tell you when one is about to pass. A system that alerts you before a check or document expires means you deal with it calmly, weeks ahead, rather than discovering it during an audit.
How CEVERO Care helps: CEVERO Care keeps DBS, Right to Work and training on each staff record, shows each care worker’s compliance status, and raises an alert before anything expires, alongside the rota that needs those staff to be cleared to work. Book a demo or see every feature.