June 2010

 

Vetting and Barring Scheme Placed on Hold by New Government

 

In its recent document ‘The Coalition: Our programme for government’, the Government set out its aim to 'review the criminal records and vetting and barring regime and scale it back to common sense levels'.

In order to deliver this promise and carry out the remodelling, the commencement of voluntary registration with the Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will be halted. The first phase of registration was scheduled to commence on 26th July 2010. Organisations that may be effected by this decision include charities, voluntary groups and education authorities. These organisations are being contacted by the Government with details of the cancellation.

 

Background to the Vetting & Barring Scheme

 

The VBS was designed to protect children and vulnerable adults by preventing those who pose a known risk from gaining access to them through their work or volunteering. The Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) now maintains two lists, one of those barred from working with children, the other of those barred from working with vulnerable adults.

 

Impact on Registration

Voluntary registration with the Scheme was due to start on 26 July and was being limited to new employees and job-movers working or volunteering with children or vulnerable adults.
However, as a consequence of the recent announcement, the introduction of the Scheme will be stopped to allow the Government to re-model it to common sense levels.

 

Continued Safeguarding

Whilst the Scheme is being remodelled existing safeguarding regulations remain in force and should be adhered to. The following changes came into effect from 12th October 2009.

 

it is now a criminal offence for barred individuals to apply to work with children or vulnerable adults in a wider range of posts than previously. Employers also face criminal sanctions for knowingly employing a barred individual across a wider range of work;   the previous barring lists have been replaced by two new barred lists administered by the ISA rather than several Government departments. Now, checks of these two lists can be made as part of an Enhanced CRB/AccessNI check;   additional jobs and voluntary positions are covered by the new regulations, including moderators of children's internet chat rooms and large numbers of NHS and justice sector staff; employers, local authorities, professional regulators and inspection bodies are now under a duty to refer to the ISA any information about an individual where they consider them to have caused harm or pose a risk of harm to vulnerable groups, such as why they stopped, or considered stopping, an individual working with vulnerable groups.

 

In October 2009, the right to ask for an enhanced CRB disclosure was extended to all those who employ or use volunteers in types of activity called ‘Regulated Activity’. This right remains, and you should continue to carry out appropriate pre-recruitment checks, including CRB checks where appropriate or required by law.

Keep visiting www.backcheck.co.uk for the latest news and information on the Vetting and Barring Scheme.