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Recent documents and further information
Note from DCSF, ASCL and ATL to head teachers of maintained schools in England and to principals of FE colleges (February 2010)
VBS and CRB checks (December 2009)
'Drawing the Line': A report on the Government's Vetting and Barring Scheme*
This independent report, published on 14 December 2009, contains Sir Roger Singleton's recommendations following his review of the Vetting and Barring Scheme for people working with children or vulnerable adults, as requested by the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families Ed Balls on 14 September 2009. For more information, read the Government's response to the report.
* Available to download or order for free from ECM Online Publications
Vetting and Barring myth buster (updated February 2010)
The new Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS) involving the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA), will have a major impact on the recruitment and monitoring practices of people doing certain specified work or volunteering with children.
Created under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, the new Vetting and Barring Scheme replaces the previous List 99, Protection of Children Act (PoCA), Protection of Vulnerable Adults (PoVA) and Disqualification Order regimes. The ISA decides who is unsuitable to do certain specified work or volunteering with vulnerable groups. It will base its decisions on pulling together information held by various agencies, government departments and the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB).
Once the scheme is fully rolled out, it will be illegal to hire someone in regulated activity, with a few exceptions that will be listed in guidance, who is not registered with and therefore has not been checked by the ISA. The new scheme will cover employees and volunteers in the education, care and health industries, affecting some 9 to 9.5 million people.
To register for updates on the new scheme or obtain further guidance and information on who will be affected, go to the ISA website.
The ISA will play an important role in safeguarding children, which is a top priority for the Government. To find out more, go to the 'Safeguarding children' page of this website.
Vetting and Barring Scheme safeguards introduced
Increased safeguards have now been introduced under the Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS), from 12 October 2009.
- It is now a criminal offence for individuals barred by the ISA to work or apply to work with children or vulnerable adults in a wide range of posts - including most NHS jobs, Prison Service, education and childcare. Employers also face criminal sanctions for knowingly employing a barred individual across a wider range of work.
- The three former barred lists (POCA, POVA and List 99) are being replaced by two new ISA-barred lists.
- Employers, local authorities, professional regulators and other bodies have a duty to refer to the ISA, information about individuals working with children or vulnerable adults where they consider them to have caused harm or pose a risk of harm. Referral forms and referral guidance are available from the ISA website.
- VBS guidance is now available covering the increased safeguards and the duties to refer introduced from 12 October 2009.
For more information, read the Vetting and Barring Scheme safeguards (October 2009).
Please note
ISA-registration for the Vetting and Barring Scheme does not start for new workers or those moving jobs until July 2010 and ISA-registration does not become mandatory for these workers until November 2010. All other staff will be phased into the scheme from 2011. Further information on how to apply for registration will be provided in due course.
Associated documents
Independent Safeguarding Authority: Next step in transition to new vetting and barring scheme
(140Kb)
Information sharing and assessment vetting barring scheme final regulatory impact assessment July 2006
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Last updated on 02/03/2010
