The REC has responded to feedback from the Commission for Social Care Inspectorate (CSCI) on the abusive and criminal activities of a number of domiciliary care workers.

Peter Cullimore, chair of the REC’s nursing and social care sector group, says: "Organisations involved in the provision and monitoring of domiciliary care services must continue to work together to address the sickening examples of bad practice identified by CSCI. One thing that the CSCI comments underline is the crucial role that recruitment agencies in this sector must play in effectively vetting all workers that are sent to work with some of the most vulnerable people in our society."

He added that recognising and promoting the work of high performing agencies must go alongside ongoing activities to identify and sanction any agencies not meeting their obligations.