On 17th January 2000 Margaret Hodge, Minister for Employment and Equal Opportunities announced measures designed to "strengthen the safeguards for children who are looked after by nannies." New guidance was promised, to be published in the spring to underpin the new and revised regulations governing employment agencies to be issued by the Department of Trade and Industry.

The Minister had originally issued proposals for consultation for the establishment of a voluntary system of registration for nanny agencies. This had met with considerable opposition. Only about 30% of nannies are employed through agencies in the first place, and since the proposed standards for voluntary registration were likely to be expensive, it was thought that very few would in fact register voluntarily, making the system ineffective.

Proponents of statutory registration wanted a system under the control of the DfEE, the Government Department responsible for the quality of services for young children. The new Government proposals will pass the responsibility to the DTI, who will deal with nanny agencies along with all the other types of employment agency.

The need for a National Register for nannies and other childcare workers remains on the shelf, and until that is dealt with, there remains a serious gap in the Government's measures.

The guidance for nanny agencies will include advice on :

• identity checks
• the checking of histories, qualifications and references
• interviewing
• the placing of candidates.

The Minister said that she was "sure that [the advice] will provide parents and agencies with the help they need to minimise the risk of children being cared for by unsuitable nannies." Speaking on behalf of PANN, Tricia Pritchard said that the proposals were "welcome, but still not enough."

History was made when Kenneth Biden, aged 64, was jailed for three years under the 1997 Sex Offenders Act at Middlesex Guildhall Crown Court for offences committed in another country. Biden had assaulted young girls at the camp-site he ran in Brittany, and he pleaded guilty to six charges of indecent assault on five girls aged between 5 and 12. Biden groomed the children carefully, vetting his customers and playing with the children for hours. Detective Inspector David Marshall said, "The Act has enabled us to convict a very calculating, manipulative and dangerous paedophile". Guardian 22nd January 2000

The case indicates the need for an international register for people working with children and young people. The use of the Act is a very welcome step forward, but when Biden is out of prison on completion of his sentence, there is little to prevent him finding another country where supervision may be more lax.

In a Press Release issued jointly with PANN, CRY supported the NSPCC's calls for tighter controls and measures such as an independent watchdog with statutory powers, visitors for children in care and the early implementation of the Criminal Records Bureau.

Tricia Pritchard said, "The NSPCC has highlighted how it is still all too easy for undesirable people to gain access to children. We support its calls for tighter controls. The Home Secretary has said it will take two years to establish the Bureau. We need action now to protect children, parents and childcarers."

Under the original plans, the Criminal Records Bureau would have been commencing work shortly, but it was put on hold by the Home Office Minister, Paul Boateng, in order to avoid the embarrassment of a failure with the computers comparable to the one which affected the issue of passports.

 The Association of Directors of Social Services has issued a useful pack of information to brief the media and politicians about the complex issues which lie behind the Inquiry carried out by Sir Robert Waterhouse into allegations of abuse in children's homes and schools in North Wales.

In an introductory letter from Jo Williams, the President of the ADSS, the "feelings of outrage and sadness" about what happened are acknowledged and shared., but the pack goes on to analyse the factors which led to the present crisis, the measures being taken to deal with the situation, and proposals for further action.

Documents in the pack include :

- the ADSS evidence to the Waterhouse Inquiry
- action since the evidence was presented
- information from CCETSW on training for staff working with children and young people
- your questions answered.

The pack is a welcome attempt to meet anticipated criticism head-on and deal with it positively and constructively. People will be angry, but the anger must be turned into a resolve that every step must be taken to stop it ever happening again.

Further information is obtainable on the ADSS website www.adss.org.uk

Protecting Vulnerable Older People

A study undertaken by Action on Elder Abuse has shown that a quarter of all allegations of abuse relate to residential or hospital care. Some abuse was attributed to deliberate harm but most was the result of bad practice by workers under pressure. The lack of training was high-lighted in the Department of Health response.
Guardian 7th February 2000-02-23

CRY is concerned about the registration of people working with children and young people, but among its supporters are those who wish to see registration extended to workers with all client groups, including those caring for people with learning disability or older people. The principles of registration and the systems required are identical, but CRY has limited its remit in order to have a sharper focus for action.

 GMC under Pressure

Following the trial of Dr Harold Shipman, the GMC has been under considerable pressure to reform, and news stories are being published which suggest that the Council has been dilatory in taking action and protective towards doctors rather than defending the rights and safety of patients.

Dr Dominic Jackson was jailed for sexually assaulting a baby and admitted heroin addiction and alcoholism. Dr Jackson was sentenced to 18 months in prison in April 1999, and although now freed from prison, Dr Jackson has still not been struck off. The GMC said it was still considering what action to take.
Guardian 7th February 2000

For a professional register to have credibility, action needs to be taken promptly to protect the professional's clients and hearings need to take place as quickly as fairness and the gathering of evidence permit. Judgements need to be made in the interests of clients, rather than the professionals. This means that the test of allegations of misconduct has to be the balance of probabilities rather than the absence of reasonable doubt. The GMC falls well short on these criteria.