Independent Safeguarding Authority

From October 12th 2009 the ISA’s (Independent Safeguarding Authority) responsibilities for barring individuals who pose a known risk from working or volunteering with children and vulnerable adults have been further strengthened as more sectors – such as the NHS and the Prison Service – will come under the Scheme and new criminal offences will come into force.

 Currently the ISA is taking all decisions on barring individuals from working with vulnerable groups, based upon the criteria set down in the Protection of Vulnerable Adults Act (POVA) and Protection of Children Act. However, from October 12th 2009 this changed and all barring decisions will come under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act, which created the Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS).

While the ISA is presently making decisions based on the current legislation, it is also ensuring that both the right people and systems are in place for all phases of the Scheme. From 26 July 2010 all new entrants to roles working with vulnerable groups and those switching jobs within these sectors will be able to register with the ISA and be checked by them. The legal requirement for employees to register with the VBS and employers to check their status will come into force in November 2010. Registration will also include employers being continuously informed of an employee’s suitability to work.

For more information visit: www.isa-gov.org.uk

Criminal Records Bureau

The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) has issued a revised code of   practice for registered bodies and other recipients of CRB disclosure information. The revised code is intended to ensure organisations do not breach the spirit and requirements of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 by submitting ineligible disclosure applications and that registered bodies correctly verify the identity of disclosure applicants. Registered bodies should also ensure that sensitive and personal data in disclosures is correctly managed and that their applicants are treated fairly when considering sensitive disclosure information. The new Code of Practice brings together all of the legislative changes which have come into force since 2001 into one document for easy reference.

The new Code of Practice is available to download from the Criminal Records Bureau  

Any copies of the previous code should be destroyed.

Last updated: 11th November 2009