Childcare settings face tight staff law

The move is one of a number of proposals to give greater protection to children and vulnerable adults from potential abusers, unveiled in Belfast last week by minister for health, social services and public safety Bairbre de Brun.

The plans for new legislation to improve existing vetting procedures for anyone seeking to work with children and vulnerable adults are contained in a consultation document, Proposals for a Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults Bill. It covers staff working in settings including education, health and social services, and those doing paid or unpaid work with voluntary organisations.

Among the other key proposals are the creation of new statutory registers which will include the names of individuals deemed unsuitable to work with children or vulnerable adults, and a right of appeal against inclusion on the registers. Childcare settings and organisations will be required to carry out checks on any person to whom they intend to offer employment. New court orders will be imposed on certain offenders to disqualify them from working with children, and if an individual works or seeks work with children or vulnerable adults whilst listed on the new statutory registers or while subject to a disqualification order, they will be guilty of an offence.