It is thought the hospital had relied on the agency checking the worker's criminal record bureau (CRB) check status.

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But in the statement, it said the panel worked "within the adoption legislation which includes ensuring that statutory and personal references are undertaken, alongside criminal record bureau checks and medicals".

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Cautions will be filtered from record checks by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), formerly known as the Criminal Records Bureau, after six years for adults and two years for young offenders.

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