Independent Safeguarding Authority

Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) and Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS) 

The commencement of voluntary registration with the new Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, which was due to begin on 26 July, has been put on hold. As a result of ISA registration being stopped, the CRB has had to consider the impact on its application process; however, the CRB will still launch the new application form on 26 July 2010 as originally planned.

The coalition Government is to review the Vetting & Barring and criminal records schemes. Therefore the Government has decided to maintain those aspects of the new Scheme which are already in place, but not to introduce further elements.

Background to the Vetting & Barring Scheme (VBS)

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.

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 The previous barring lists have been replaced by two new barred lists administered by the ISA rather than several Government departments.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;

. Standard CRB checks are no longer available for people working with children or vulnerable adults;

. The POVAFirst service is renamed the 'ISA Adult First' service.

For further information please visit    www.isa-gov.org