Vetting & Barring

The Independent Safeguarding Authority has announced further details on the new Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS) registration for those working with children and vulnerable adults.

While the legal requirement for employees to register with the VBS and for employers to check their status will not now come into force until November 2010, from July 2010 all new entrants to roles working with vulnerable groups and those switching jobs to a new provider will be able to register and be assessed.

A roling registration process will then take place over the following 5 years, to ensure everyone working with children, young people and vulnerable adults has appropriate opportunity to engage with this new process.

Make sure you know what you are expected to do as the new vetting service is introduced in managed phases.

From October 2009

Increased safeguards will be introduced, such as a wider definition of "Regulated activities", further enhancing protection of children and vulnerable adults.
The three current barring lists (POCA, POVA and List 99) will be replaced by the creation of two new barred lists administered by the ISA rather than several government departments. Checks of these new lists can be made as part of an Enhanced CRB check.
Employers, social services and professional regulators have a duty to refer to the ISA any information about individuals who may pose a risk ensuring potential threats to vulnerable groups can be identified and dealt with.
There will be criminal penalties for barred individuals who seek or undertake work with vulnerable groups and for employers who knowingly take them on.
The eligibility criteria for Enhanced CRB checks will be extended to include anyone working in a regulated position.

From July 2010

From July 2010 those who are new to the workforce, those who are changing roles to take on regulated activity and those changing jobs whilst working in regulated activity may apply for ISA registration. Those who currently work with vulnerable groups but are staying in their current role will not have to become registered until later in the five year phasing period.
From July 2010, individuals can apply for ISA-registration and a CRB check (including an ISA check) on one new application form.
When a person becomes ISA-registered they will be continuously monitored and their status reassessed against any new information which may come to light.

From November 2010

So as not to disrupt normal recruitment over the traditionally busy summer period, the legal requirement for employees to register with the VBS and employers to check their status will come into force in November 2010.

From 2011

Existing employees and volunteers with no CRB check must apply for ISA registration.
Existing employees and volunteers with CRB checks will also need to apply for ISA registration, starting with staff whose CRB checks are the oldest.

For more information about what the new Vetting and Barring scheme will mean for you, your volunteers and your organisation please visit http://www.isa-gov.org.uk/Default.aspx?page=2

Last updated on 11/02/10 by Tiffany Irons