POVA in England & Wales for care homes and domiciliary care agencies: A Practical Guide: Click here to download.
POVAFirst checks are being made available only in very exceptional circumstances described in the Department of Health (DH) guidance [1] in which a "care worker" may be allowed to start work in a care home, for a domiciliary care agency or as a adult placement carer before a CRB Disclosure has been issued. Such cases are permissible only where it is necessary to take such action because of a real danger that staffing levels will otherwise fall below numbers required to meet statutory obligations. The Commission for Social Care Inspection will monitor applications for POVAFirst checks to ensure compliance with this criteria.
[1] [Protection of Vulnerable Adults Scheme in England and Wales for care homes and domiciliary care agencies: A Practical Guide, including changes to the requirement for Criminal Records Bureau Disclosures in certain circumstances, DH, 26 July 2004]
Who can use the POVAFirst service?
In the circumstances described above, POVAFirst is only available to Registered and Umbrella Bodies:
who are entitled to access the Protection of Vulnerable Adults (POVA) list; and
who have requested a Protection of Vulnerable Adults (POVA) check by placing a cross [X] in Y4 on the Disclosure application form; and
who have Payment on Account status; and
have an email facility.
Customers who use the services of an Umbrella Body can ask their Umbrella Body to access POVAFirst on their behalf, and should speak with their Umbrella Body to discuss how this can be arranged.