Reference and background checking are the cornerstone of safety and regulatory compliance in the UK's healthcare and social care industries. With the welfare of vulnerable populations at stake, these sectors must employ mechanisms that not only verify the credentials of potential hires but also safeguard against potential risks that could compromise the quality of care.
Here, we talk to Referoo CEO Neil Rose about the practices that can help ensure compliance and safety.
“There is so much at stake in these industries. Obviously, first and foremost is patient welfare and safeguarding vulnerable people,” he says.
“And then there is the impact on trust. The healthcare and social care industries operate on our trust at a time when we’re most vulnerable. Even if a fraudulent hire doesn’t cause any harm to patients, news of it will most definitely break the trust of your patient base.”
And he says it’s out there, happening every day.
Rose points to recent cases, such as a nurse who worked at the Princess of Wales Hospital for five months before concerns were raised about her qualifications or a care worker in Northern Ireland who used a fake email address to submit her own reference.
“Given the stringent regulatory landscape in the UK, ensuring that staff members are appropriately qualified and have a clear background is more than a matter of due diligence – it's a legal and moral imperative,” he says.
Comprehensive background checks, including criminal record checks, employment history verification and right to work checks are essential components of a robust compliance strategy.
Simplifying the compliance process
HR and recruitment professionals in these sectors are challenged to navigate complex regulatory requirements while striving to maintain the highest standards of care.
Rose says the integration of sophisticated background-checking processes and technology can significantly simplify this task.
“Streamlined, automated processes help you on two fronts. The compliance piece and speed to hire, both critical factors in today’s healthcare talent crunch.”
Fostering a culture of compliance
Rose says that to foster a culture of compliance and safety, HR and recruitment leaders should consider implementing the following practices:
1. Comprehensive screening: Beyond just criminal record checks, it's crucial to verify a candidate's employment history, educational qualifications, eligibility to work and references.
2. Automated and integrated processes: Using technology to automate and standardise background checks can help minimise human error and ensure consistency across all checks.
3. Fraud prevention measures: Implementing tools for fraud detection and identity verification can further secure the hiring process against deceptive practices.
4. Data security and privacy: Organisations must adhere to strict data protection regulations, ensuring that all candidate information is stored and handled securely.
The path forward
For UK healthcare and social care providers, the priority is clear: ensuring the safety and well-being of those they serve.
According to Rose, effective background checks are crucial in this effort, serving as the foundation for trust, safety and compliance.
“Traditionally, these processes can be clunky and time-consuming, but with the integration of technologies like Referoo, this is streamlined and simplified. With these tools, you don’t have to choose between the speed to secure talent and the due diligence to vet them,” he concludes.
Interested in fast, efficient and accurate background checks for your health or social care organisation? Visit https://www.referoo.com/uk-solutions/healthcare to learn more. And to read more about the compliance imperative, download our free eGuide for UK employers here.
