Work Matters: Management Focus - Vetting & barring - Ready to register

Government guidance on the Vetting and Barring Scheme is now available to help employers implement change this July.

The scheme, delivered by the Criminal Records Bureau and the Independent Safeguarding Authority, aims to prevent unsuitable people, who could pose a risk or harm children or vulnerable adults, from being able to work or volunteer with these groups.

From July, employees and volunteers starting work in an organisation or a role affected by the new rules can become ISA registered.

The new guidance document contains detailed information about what actions employers and employees will be required to take under the scheme and what they should do in preparation for 26 July when it begins.

Who the scheme applies to

Those in paid or voluntary work who have frequent contact with children or vulnerable adults need to register. Frequent contact usually means once a week or more, although for certain health or personal care services, this can be once a month or more.

New staff can join from July 2010 and existing staff from the beginning of April 2011.

Settings covered by the scheme include schools, childcare premises such as nurseries and playgroups, children's homes, children's hospitals, children's detention centres, adult care homes and children's centres.

The scheme does not cover personal or family relationships. Those employed privately as a babysitter, carer or tutor do not need to register with the scheme, as it is a private arrangement. However, an employer can request this information and might prefer to have it. If a person's name is on the 'barred list', they are unable to do this work, in whatever way it has been arranged.

In order not to disrupt normal recruitment over the busy summer period, it will not be a legal requirement for new entrants to regulated activity, or those changing to a new regulated activity provider, to become ISA-registered. This will come into force in November 2010.

Changes to CRB checks

• Customers must apply for CRB checks or ISA registration on the CRB application form.

• Current application forms will no longer be accepted by the CRB.

• Customers who have a legitimate interest and who are are entitled to know whether a person is ISA-registered can do so as part of an Enhanced CRB check by selecting the appropriate box to check the relevant 'Children' or 'Vulnerable adults' lists.
  
• Customers can check online and for free, to see if an individual is ISA-registered for either or both workforces.
  
• Customers can 'register an interest', 'subscribe' to an individual's ISA-registration status and receive updates if this status changes. The online service allows users to subscribe to one or many individuals.

After 1 November 2010, if an employer wishes to employ a person in a regulated activity with children or vulnerable adults, they must ensure that the individual is ISA-registered before they start work. If not, the individual must not be employed in that role.

- The guidance document is available at www.direct.gov.uk/vetting