28 July 2005
Dear Sir,
The number of care staff banned from working with vulnerable adults is likely to be much higher than reported in Adult care ban on 700 staff (July 24). The Protection of Vulnerable Adults (POVA) register does not cover day centres or NHS settings, and lengthy checks by the Criminal Records Bureau mean that dangerous workers are almost certainly slipping through the net.
There needs to be an overhaul of the system to ensure the safety of vulnerable adults, including those with learning disabilities. Care staff must receive training around the issues of abuse and neglect and feel confident about reporting cases. Managers also need to recognise signs of abuse and neglect, ensure all staff are supervised and review hiring practices, especially in larger settings where there is increased potential for abuse and neglect due to a lack of supervision and support.
We must ensure all is done to protect people with learning disabilities and other vulnerable adults, and there is significant work yet to be done.
Yours faithfully,
Molly Mattingly, Assistant Director of the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities, Sea Containers House, 20 Upper Ground, London, SE1 9QB. Tel: 020 7803 1110. Email: mmattingly@fpld.org.uk
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