Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to improve procedures for (a) hiring and (b) vetting nursing staff.

National Health Service trusts are required to have robust and effective policies and processes aligned to employment law and good human resources practice when considering hiring staff for any NHS position, including nursing positions. Employers are required to carry out a range of vetting requirements as part of recruitment and ongoing employment checks in compliance with the NHS Employment Check Standards. These standards are aimed at supporting employers to ensure individuals are of sound character and have the appropriate qualifications, skills, and competency to properly and safely perform the tasks required of them. Further information about employment standard and regulation is available at the following link:

www.nhsemployers.org/recruitment/employment-standards-and-regulation