The latest on the Vetting and Barring Scheme

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Registration with the VBS was due to begin in July 2010, however the Coalition Government halted the this phase of the scheme whilst they conducted a review of it. The information below reflects guidance available before the review was announced. It will be updated as the outcomes of the review become clearer.

What is it?

The Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) was created  to help prevent unsuitable people from working with children and vulnerable adults.

The Vetting and Barring scheme requires all potential employees and volunteers who take part in regulated or controlled activities with children, young people or vulnerable adults to register with the ISA.

The ISA will assess each person who applies and decide on a case by case basis whether a person is suitable to work with children, young people or vulnerable adults.

Applicants that are judged not to pose a risk to children or vulnerable adults can be registered with the scheme. Applicants will receive an ISA PIN and will be allowed to take up an employed or voluntary position.

Applicants that are deemed to be unsuitable based on past employment history or criminal convictions will be barred and not allowed to work with children or vulnerable adults. For more information about Barring click here.

For more information on the Independent Safeguarding Authority click here

For more information on the Vetting and Barring scheme click here

What does this mean for employees or volunteers?

Anyone wanting to work in a regulated or controlled activity on a frequent or intensive basis will need to register with the ISA and receive their PIN before they can start work. Click here for information on the application process. It will be a criminal offence to work with children or vulnerable adults if you are barred or do not have ISA PIN.

A regulated activity involves contact with children or vulnerable adults and is:

Of a specified nature - e.g. teaching, training, care, supervision, advice, treatment

In a specified place - e.g. schools, children's homes & hospitals, adult care homes, juvenile detention facilities.

Is a specified role e.g. fostering, directors of children's services

and occurs Frequently - once a week or more (or once a month or more for health and social care involving personal care)

Intensively - takes place on 4 or more days in one month

and/or overnight -  between 2 - 6 am

Click here for further information on the scope of regulated activity or click here for more information from the ISA on the definition of regulated activity.

Download the Am I Affected? (pdf) flow chart to help you decide whether you need to register with the scheme or not - please note this document contains the old definitions of frequent and intensive - the definitions given above are correct.

See the glossary.

A controlled activity is work that:

• Involves contact with Children or Vulnerable Adults but is not regulated activity
• There are opportunities to access educational records (children only) or Health or Social Services records
• Day to day management of staff carrying out Controlled Activity

A person barred from regulated activity may still be able to carry out controlled activity with appropriate safeguards.

Click here for more information or see the glossary.

To find out more about what this means for employees and volunteers visit the ISA website.

What does this mean for employers/organisations?

Employers will be required to check that all prospective employees are ISA registered. It will be a criminal offence to employ someone who is barred or who does not have an ISA PIN. Click here for information on how to make checks on prosepctive employees.

From 12th October 2009 employers have a legal duty to make a referral to the ISA when there is harm or the risk of harm to children (or vulnerable adults) or when an individual has received a caution or conviction for a relevant offence.

For further information about referrals to the ISA including a downloadable referral form - click here.

For more detailed information about employers responsibilities - click here

For advice from Safe Network on ensuring you employ the right people - click here

What about CRBs?

ISA-registration will not currently be replacing the need for ‘Criminal Records Bureau' (CRB) Disclosure.

The CRB check will reveal any convictions a person may have and whilst these may not be related to children, young people or vulnerable adults the information can help organisations makes a decision as to whether a person is suitable for specific roles.

For further information about CRBs and the ISA please visit the CRB website.

How much does it cost?

There is a one-off fee of £64 to register with the ISA. This is comprised of a £28 fee to cover the ISA's costs and £36 to cover the CRB's costs as administrator of the applications. Once registered you remain on the ISA's database for the duration of your career. 

Unpaid volunteers will not have to pay the registration fee, however if a volunteer starts paid employment (that requires them to be ISA registered) they will have to pay the fee then. it is down to individual employers to decide whether they will cover this fee or whether the individual will be expected to cover the cost.

For further details about the cost of ISA registration click here.

When is this happening?

Where can I get support?

Attend one of the free information sessions (see training events below for details)

Voluntary and community groups can access individual support for their group/organisation can be accessed through the Group Support Team  at Voluntary Action LeicesterShire. They can be contacted on http://www.groupsupport.org.uk or by contacting the Helpline on 0116 2575050.

The ISA have their own helpline. Call  0300 123 1111 or email info@vbs-info.org.uk.  

Further Reading

For answers to some frequently asked questions click here.

For a list of useful links and information put together by NAVCA click here

For explanations of some of the key terms used on this page please see our glossary.