Learn how managing leavers and sharing safeguarding and conduct information with others contributes to creating a safer environment for people drawing on care and support.
When someone leaves your organisation, it's important to manage the process carefully and share relevant information appropriately. This helps protect people who receive care and support and supports safer recruitment across the sector.
Accurate records, factual references and timely referrals, where required, help ensure safeguarding concerns are managed appropriately and support informed recruitment decisions by future employers.
What you need to do
Make sure you:
- Follow a clear leaving process for all staff.
- Record the reason for leaving, including any safeguarding or conduct concerns where relevant.
- Provide factual and accurate references when requested.
- Consider whether a referral to the DBS or another regulatory body is required.
- Keep clear records of decisions, actions and information shared.
Key things to get right
- Share accurate information: Ensure references and employment records are factual, evidence-based and reflect what is known.
- Understand your duty to refer: Be aware of your legal responsibilities to make a referral where someone has caused harm or may present a risk to people who receive care and support.
- Keep clear records: Maintain accurate documentation to support decision-making, information sharing and safeguarding.
Common things to avoid
- Providing vague or incomplete references.
- Not sharing relevant safeguarding information where appropriate.
- Missing opportunities to make a required referral.
- Keeping incomplete or unclear records about why someone left.
Use our safer recruitment and employment checklist to help manage staff leavers and making appropriate referrals, including sharing relevant safeguarding information and referring concerns to the appropriate bodies (pages 30–31).