The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), the representative body for recruitment agencies including those specialising in care workers, has responded to claims that illegal immigrants working in the UKís care homes could be putting elderly people at risk.
The revelations came through a leaked Home Office report which revealed that hundreds of illegal immigrants, including convicted criminals, may now be working in care homes without having gone through the necessary checks before being allowed to work with vulnerable groups such as the elderly.
Peter Cullimore, Chair of the RECís Nursing and Social Care Sector Group, commented: ìRecruitment agencies in the care sector play a key filtering role by conducting appropriate checks on workers ñ in particular with regards to criminal records and the right to work in the UK. Care agencies are already regulated by the Commission for Social Care and it is crucial to ensure that the different Government inspectorates that also monitor agencies work closer together to effectively enforce illegal working requirements as well as other regulations.
On the specific issue of illegal working, the REC has consistently called for effective support from the Home Office. A previous survey carried out among REC members 18 months ago revealed that 77 per cent of agencies had seen identity papers and work permits they suspect to be false. However, of those that reported the problem to the Immigration Service, around two-thirds felt that decisive action was not taken on the matter.
Peter Cullimore added: ìProgress has been made since this survey but the Government must continue to effectively support legitimate businesses as well as coming down hard on those that knowingly flout current regulations. Organisations that do not ensure that the necessary checks have taken place not only put elderly people at risk, but also undercut legitimate employers and agenciesî.
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REC highlights key role of recruiters in checking care home workers
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