False abuse allegations to be wiped from workers' records

Junior children's minister Baroness Delyth Morgan last week pledged to change the system as part of an overhaul of the statutory guidance on handling of allegations of abuse against those who work with young people.

Morgan said a review of the guidance had shown it to be largely effective. However, she acknowledged concerns within the sector over the requirements in existing guidance that references on prospective employees should contain details of any allegations of abuse, even those proved untrue.

In a letter accompanying the launch of a consultation on the revised guidance, Morgan said: "I am happy now to confirm that we do intend to amend the guidance to make clear that allegations which have been investigated and demonstrated to be completely untrue do not need to be included in a teacher's references.

"We are committed to ensuring that the systems for dealing with allegations provide effective protection for children against abuse while also providing a fair, transparent system for teachers and other members of the children's workforce that minimises the impact of allegations that turn out to be unfounded."

David Whewell, chair of the Confederation of Heads of Young People's Services, welcomed the proposed change. He said: "This is an important change. If someone has been accused of something and that accusation has been found to be untrue, to then tar them with that forever more is very unfair."