DHSC consultation on volunteer checks concluded
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has published its response following a consultation on proposed changes to the Health and Care Act 2008 to remove the requirement for a full employment history with respect to volunteers in health and care settings. The government plans to take forward the proposal in the new year.
The amendment to the regulation means that employers are no longer required to obtain this information from volunteer applicants if deemed unnecessary. This will help to streamline volunteer recruitment processes, remove barriers for applicants, and reduce administrative burden for service providers.
Employers will still be able to request a full employment history should they deem it appropriate when appointing a volunteer. However, it will no longer be a statutory requirement.
DHSC will be producing some guidance to help employers implement the change and to ensure that volunteer recruitment processes remain robust, safe and effective. Our employment history and reference checks standard will also be updated to incorporate the different requirement for volunteers.
We will provide further information when the amended legislation has been passed through Parliament in the new year.
Read the full consultation response.
