CRIMINAL RECORDS DISCLOSURES AND VETTING AND BARRING
The ISA registration stage of the Vetting and Barring Scheme has been halted to allow the new Government to conduct a remodelling of the scheme.
Theresa May, Home Secretary states ‘the Government has made clear its intention to bring the criminal records and vetting and barring regimes back to common sense levels’.
Until this remodelling has taken place, existing arrangements under the Scheme will continue to include the following:
- Since January 2009, the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) has been making independent barring decisions. It will continue to maintain two constantly updated lists, one for those barred from working with children, the other for those barred from working with vulnerable adults;
- Existing requirements concerning Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Access Northern Ireland checks will remain in place, and those entitled to such checks can continue to apply for them;
- Employers are still legally obliged to refer information to the ISA if they have moved or removed an individual because they have harmed or there is a risk of harm to a member of a vulnerable group.
NOTE: The scope of the remodelling process - to be co-ordinated by the Home Office in partnership with Department of Health and Department for Education - is currently being finalised; EXTEND will let you know as and when the Government announces a time frame. No one can register with the Independent Safeguarding Authority until further notice from the Government.
New forms
Although this phase of the ISA has been halted, the new 'CRB Application form' will be available from 12 July 2010 from Dudley Kerswell however there will be sections relating to ISA that will no longer be mandatory parts of the form as advised.
CRB will not process any applications made on the old style form (Disclosure Application Form - DAF) if they are received after 20 July 2010. EXTEND recommends that all applications on the (old style) current form be posted before 16 July 2010 to Dudley Kerswell.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS RELATING TO THE NEW SYSTEM
Why has ISA registration been halted?
The new coalition Government had already stated their intention to "review the vetting and barring regime and scale it back to common sense levels".
The Government appreciates the amount of work and preparation that has gone into the scheme in sectors that work with children or vulnerable adults. Ministers are also aware that affected organisations will be keen to hear, from the new Government, details not only on the remodelling itself, but also on whether it will lead to any change to the future introduction of ISA registration, and will bear in mind that an early announcement on those specific points would be widely welcomed by all those who work with vulnerable groups.
The scope and timing of the remodel are expected to be finalised shortly and the CRB will communicate any updates as soon as more information is available.
Will ISA registration still be introduced?
It is not yet clear how the Government's remodelling of the Vetting and Barring Scheme will impact the future of ISA registration. Once more information about the outcome of the remodel is available, the CRB will communicate this to you.
When can I start submitting applications on the new form?
The CRB will accept applications on the new form from 12 July 2010. Those applications made on the new form will be held unprocessed at the CRB office until 26 July 2010 at which point, they will be processed in date received order.
What will happen on the 26 July 2010 as a result of the government announcement?
On 26 July 2010, the CRB will still start processing applications made on the new form since 12 July 2010.
Scotland - Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme
The Scottish PVG Scheme expected to be introduced later this year (2010).
Scottish Ministers have made a strong commitment to ensuring that the PVG Scheme streamlines and simplifies the disclosure process. Applications to join PVG for the first time or for a PVG Scheme record (the full record) will cost £59. Once all the existing workforce has joined, the PVG Scheme record will only be required for people new to the workforce or when an 'employer' chooses to follow up any new vetting information relating to an employee.
NB Further details to follow with affiliation pack 2010
