The Independent Safeguarding Authority

Update from the ISA website:

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 Vetting and Barring Scheme is being halted.  The first phase of registration was due to commence on 26 July 2010.

Although the Scheme is halted whilst the Government undertakes its review, new safeguarding regulations introduced in October 2009 continue to apply. These include:

A person who is barred from working with children or vulnerable adults will be breaking 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 those groups will also be breaking the law.

If your organisation works with children or vulnerable adults and you dismiss a member of staff or a volunteer because they have harmed a child or vulnerable adult, or you would have done so if they had not left, you must tell the Independent Safeguarding Authority.

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.

The Independent Safeguarding Authority will continue to carry out its work as an independent decision making body as well as continuing to maintain the barred lists. They will also continue to accept referrals, full guidance on which is available here.

For further information, please contact the VBS contact centre on 0300 123 1111.

Criminal Records Bureau

Update from the CRB website:

New CRB Application Forms

From 20th July the CRB will only be accepting applications made on the new (purple) application form.

Any applications on the old (white) form received by the CRB after 20th July will be rejected. 

The CRB has been accepting applications on the new forms since 28th June 2010. These are being held until 26th July 2010 at which point they will be processed in date received order.

From 26th July 2010 you will be able to order more new (purple) application forms by phoning the Customer Services Call Centre on 0870 90 90 811

Top Tips for completing the new application form

The new CRB application form was designed to allow customers to apply for a CRB check and ISA registration on one simple form. However, as a result of the Governments recent announcement to halt the launch of ISA registration phase of the new Vetting and Barring Scheme this form should only be used to apply for a CRB check. Updated 12.07. 2010

Umbrella bodies ensure that smaller organisations can gain access to CRB checks.  A list of umbrella bodies can be searched here.