Staff background checks: safeguarding vulnerable adults

It is compulsory for an applicant seeking employment in a healthcare organisation in the United States to undergo a series of background checks, which are carried out by the employer. These checks are made to protect the safety and wellbeing of residents in nursing homes or patients in healthcare organisations. Residents of nursing homes are soft targets for criminals and patients undergoing medical procedures can be vulnerable to abuse. The deviant behaviour of employees can also be a financial disaster for organisations, and ruin their reputation. This article discusses safeguards that an organisation in the US can put in place to protect its interests and help keep patients or residents safe and preserve their integrity. Although care systems are different in the U.K., concerns about the potential abuse of vulnerable adults are similar.