Commissioning care homes: common safeguarding challenges
Underlying causes – Recruitment
The Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) has identified poor practice in recruitment, induction and supervision as root causes of many safeguarding issues. This presents a major opportunity for the prevention of abuse. Commissioners should examine recruitment procedures of the home to ensure they are robust.
Prevention checklist
- The home manager and senior staff demonstrate good leadership skills.
- The home closely scrutinises applications for employment and actively investigates any gaps in employment history.
- The home always checks references rigorously and makes further enquiries where necessary.
- At interview the home establishes that the candidate has the appropriate attitudes and values to be considered for care work.
- The home employs care staff with a good understanding of English (or other language spoken by the majority of residents) to ensure good and clear communication.
- The home has a comprehensive induction programme and evidence that it is provided for all staff.
- The induction programme includes safeguarding practice and procedures and the individual's responsibility to raise concerns.
- New staff are mentored by existing staff and their practice is monitored.
- There is evidence of regular supervision which monitors safeguarding practice and encourages staff to raise concerns.
- All staff receive Mental Capacity Act training (see the SCIE MCA resources)
