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VETTING AND BARRING SCHEME GUIDANCE ISSUED

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Reducing the risk of abuse

The Vetting and Barring Scheme will help stop people who are a risk to children and vulnerable adults from working with them. You'll need to register with the scheme (also called ISA-registration) within the next five years if you work or volunteer frequently with children or vulnerable adults.

Find out who needs to register with the Vetting and Barring Scheme

19th April 2010

Full guidance to assist employers and voluntary groups in implementing the Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS) was published on 19th March by the Home Office.

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

The publication comes ahead of the implementation of key changes which mean that, from July 2010, employees starting work in an organisation or role affected by the new rules and volunteers working with vulnerable groups can apply to become ISA registered.

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

The Home Office Minister responsible for the VBS, Meg Hillier, said:
"We have worked hard to ensure that employers, employees and volunteers have the information they need to meet the requirements of the Vetting and Barring Scheme. The publication of this guidance is the latest step in that process.

"Over the last year we've delivered face-to-face briefings to more than 40,000 employers, charities and voluntary groups up and down the country, and the feedback from them has been overwhelmingly supportive.

"I'm confident that this guidance will quickly become an invaluable tool for all organisations working with vulnerable groups over the coming months and years as the scheme is rolled out.

"The benefits of the VBS are clear - better sharing of information, portable registration status for employers and volunteers, and clear decisions on who is unsuitable to work with vulnerable groups."

A link to the guidance has been sent directly to almost 26,000 employers, charities and voluntary groups. The document is also accessible on the Directgov and Business Link websites.