Update on the Vetting and Barring Scheme

The Coalition Government recently published its review of the Vetting and Barring Scheme.

Key recommendations include:

• Merging the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) to form a new body providing barring and criminal records checks
• Reducing the number of positions requiring checks to those working closely and regularly with children and vulnerable adults
• Portability of criminal records checks between jobs (online fee based service)
• No requirement for those working/volunteering with the vulnerable to register
• Stopping employers requesting criminal records checks on individuals not affected

You can read the report at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/crime/vetting-barring-scheme/

Until appropriate legislation is introduced (projected as November 2011) and new arrangements established (2012/13), existing responsibilities of employers and the ISA remain in force, including:-

• A person barred from working with children or vulnerable adults breaks the law if they work or volunteer, or try to work or volunteer with those groups
• An organisation which knowingly employs someone who is barred to work with these groups breaks the law
• If your organisation works with children/vulnerable adults and you dismiss or remove a member of staff or volunteer because they have harmed a child or vulnerable adult, or you would have if they had not left, you must still tell the ISA.

This situation applies in England and Wales. In Scotland, from 28th February 2011, the Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme (PVG) applies. The scheme will be managed and delivered by Disclosure Scotland. Further details are available via the link below:- http://www.disclosurescotland.co.uk/apply/employers/

In Northern Ireland, the expressed intention has always been that the scheme applying in England and Wales would apply. Thus far, the Coalition Government has referred only to changes in legislation affecting England and Wales. Given that Northern Ireland has closely followed the position in England and Wales, it seems likely that arrangements there will be similarly modified. Access NI, the responsible body in Northern Ireland, is currently carrying the following message on its website:-

“AccessNI will shortly provide further information to its Registered, Responsible and Umbrella body network about these reviews and place further information on the Vetting and Barring Scheme section of this website"

Further detail is available from:- http://www.accessni.gov.uk/latest-news.htm