Louise Woollam’s story is more than heart-breaking, it’s a wake-up call. In 2023, she trusted a private carer to care for her husband, Richard, who lives with advanced Alzheimer’s. The carer came with a clean DBS certificate, insurance, and a caring demeanour. Within weeks, intimate family heirlooms—including a 200-year-old engagement ring, sentimental keepsakes, and foreign currency—were stolen from their home.
The true shock came when Louise discovered the carer had previously been convicted of a similar crime against another person with Alzheimer’s back in 2010. Yet under English law, Louise had no way of knowing this. A clean DBS check offered no protection, because carers are not required to be registered or regulated, as they are in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Louise's petition, calling for Richard’s Law, demands essential reforms:
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Why This Matters
At NACAS, we stand firmly behind Louise’s campaign. Every truly dedicated care professional deserves, and depends on the trust that comes with proper oversight. But more critically, vulnerable adults and their families deserve peace of mind. Without a reliable register, there’s nowhere to turn when safeguards fail. No reporting mechanism. No transparent accountability. And no guarantee that someone convicted of harming those they were meant to protect can be stopped.
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The Care Professional Register
Our forthcoming Care Professional Register (CPR) is designed to fill this dangerous gap. It offers:
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Together We Can Build Trust
Louise's experience is a painful reminder that without regulation, a single betrayal can shatter trust in the entire profession. But we have the power to act. By supporting Richard’s Law and the creation of the Care Professional Register, we can ensure that carers who fail their most vulnerable clients are held to account—while uplifting and protecting those who do their vital work with compassion and integrity.
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