To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that all those who had complaints made against them while working at Kerelaw School, but have not been investigated by Glasgow City Council because they are no longer employed by the council, who now work for other authorities are swiftly investigated.
In relation to anyformer employee now working in a care setting or school, we would expect employersto have carried out rigorous recruitment checks and to have firm child protectionpolicies and procedures in place. This is a requirement in the relevant NationalCare Standards published by the Scottish Government. The Care Commission is requiredto take these Standards into account when it inspects care services. Safer recruitmentrequirements are also set out in both the
Code of Practice for Employers of SocialService Workers (Scottish Social Services Council). In, addition the recentguidance published by the Scottish Executive,
Safer Recruitment Through BetterRecruitment reinforces and underpins these requirements.
In any case wherethere may be a report to the Procurator Fiscal, it is a matter for the Crown Officeand Procurator Fiscal Service to decide whether or not there are criminal proceedings.
Glasgow City Councilhas referred individuals to the Disqualified from Working with Children List (DWCL).I met the Director of Social Work Services on 21 June 2007 to discuss the council’s report on the Kerelaw investigation,including the number of former employees covered by the report.
Anyone who is provisionallylisted on DWCL is not barred from working in a child care position. All known employersare notified of provisional listing; employers can undertake a risk-assessment todecide on what action is appropriate; the period of provisional listing is keptas brief as possible, and provisional listing shows up on a disclosure check.
As part of the actionsresponding to the council’s review of its management of Kerelaw, I will be meetingwith residential providers to identify what further improvements may be needed toprotect children from abuse in residential care.