VETTING & BARRING SCHEME (VBS)

As from July 2010 individuals working with Children and/or Vulnerable Adults will be able to register with the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) in a Home Office initiative known as the Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS).

This scheme is intended to remove the most dangerous people from working with Children and/or Vulnerable Adults and will require employers to conduct both an Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) check and a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Disclosure.

An ISA check will reveal if a person is registered and able to work with children and/or Vulnerable Adults.

A CRB Disclosure will reveal if the person has a criminal record and whether there is any other relevant non-conviction information.

A person could be registered with the ISA (Independent Safeguarding Authority) but still have a criminal record which, if known to the employer, would make that person unsuitable do a particular job.

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

Individuals will only be able to register with the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) through a Registered Umbrella organisation such as the Vetting Company.

However, before this happens the following will come into force on 12th October 2009:

• The creation of two Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) administered lists - two barring lists will be administered by a single organisation rather than the three lists currently maintained by two different Government departments: Protection Of Children Act (POCA), Protection of Vulnerable Adults (PoVA) and List 99.
• The introduction of ‘regulated activities’ – people included in the new barred lists by the ISA will be barred from a much wider range of jobs and activities than has been the case under previous arrangements.  This is particularly so in areas of work with vulnerable adults such as the NHS.
• A new duty to share information - employers, social services and professional regulators will have to notify the ISA of relevant information so individuals who pose a threat to vulnerable groups can be identified and barred from working with these groups; and
• New criminal offences – it will become an offence for a barred individual to seek or undertake work with vulnerable groups; and for employers knowingly to take them on.

Should you wish to know more about the VBS / ISA scheme please visit http://www.isa-gov.org