Criminal Record Bureau (CRB)
checks on GPs
(DoH Guidance) Enhanced criminal record disclosures
for primary medical performers: Information for primary care trusts, strategic
health authorities and GPs
The special exercise to obtain enhanced criminal
record disclosures for all primary medical performers who have not thus far
provided them to the PCT on whose list their name appears begins on 1 November
2004. It should be completed by 1 February 2005. The information in this
document is for PCTs and medical performers taking part in the exercise, and
for strategic health authorities which will be monitoring progress locally.
(GPC Guidance) Enhanced CRB disclosures “catch up” exercise.
On
This
exercise had been scheduled to take place before establishment of performers
lists but was delayed due to capacity problems at the CRB. The DoH assure us that it has consulted fully with the CRB and both
are confident that the exercise can be completed by February 2005.
What
it means for the profession is that all GPs who were transferred automatically
to the performers list from the previous lists, and who therefore have not so
far needed to provide a disclosure, will be asked (by their PCT) to apply for
one.
This
includes salaried GPs and locums, who participate in the exercise in the same way as contractors. Disclosures are usually required for
employers, but in this exercise they are for PCTs. The fact that the majority of GPs have no
identifiable employer is therefore not an issue.
An
enhanced disclosure is essentially a check with local police force records in
addition to checks with the Police National Computer and government department
lists. The Chief Constable of the local
force decides what information is disclosed.
Enhanced disclosures are for those regularly caring for, training,
supervising or being in sole charge of children or vulnerable adults.
Clearly,
GPs who have recently applied to the performers list, and who therefore have
already supplied an enhanced disclosure, do not need to do so again in the
course of this exercise.
The
intended process is as follows.
·
GPs will receive
notification of the exercise from their PCT.
They will either send a blank application form or ask the GP to contact
the CRB for an application form.
·
After completing
the application form, the GP sends it to the PCT (as the body requiring the
disclosure).
·
The PCT verifies
the identity of the applicant GP, countersigns the
application and sends it to the CRB.
·
The CRB then
sends the applicant the certificate and sends a copy to the PCT. The GP does not need to send his or her copy
to the PCT.
The
costs of the exercise will be borne by the PCT.
For
step two, GPs can access the guidance on completing forms on the disclosure
website (www.disclosure.gov.uk). This will help ensure correct completion of
forms, and therefore avoid unnecessary delays.
They can also contact the CRB application helpline on 0870 9090 844.
PCTs
have discretion to begin the exercise sooner than 1 November, so some GPs may
receive notification very shortly. The deadline by which the GP must have made
the application should be three months from the date of the letter.
If
a GP fails to make an application by the deadline, the PCO is under a legal
obligation to remove them from the performer lists. However, the DoH is encouraging PCOs to use this sanction only after taking all reasonable
steps to identify the cause on non-compliance.
|
The above information is
reproduced from the DoH – |
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 03 August 2004
By John BakerEmail:
jb@devonlmc.org