A former Home Office minister has slammed as ‘scandalous’ news that childminders are struggling to launch their businesses because of long delays with criminal records checks.
Home-based carers cannot operate legally without the enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance required for Ofsted registration – the delays are at odds with the Government’s drive to extend free childcare.
Other childminders, waiting for checks on family members, fear having to stop trading after reporting delays of up to a year, compared to the DBS target of eight weeks.
Meg Hillier MP, who was previously responsible for this area as a junior minister, said a ‘basic lack of police resources’ appeared to be behind the waits, particularly in the Metropolitan Police Service area.
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