A. The Vetting and Barring Scheme

The Independent Safeguarding Authority’s (ISA) role is to help prevent unsuitable people from working with children and vulnerable adults.

Every person who wants to work or volunteer with vulnerable people will be assessed using data gathered by the CRB, including relevant criminal convictions, cautions, police intelligence and other appropriate sources.

The CRB will receive applications to the ISA and will gather and monitor information. It will also use the information previously found in:

• the Protection of Vulnerable Adults (PoVA) list;
• the Protection of Children Act (PoCA)  list; and
• List 99 (a list of people considered unsuitable for work with children, held by the Department for Children, Schools and Families).

The ISA will then assess this information and decide whether to give the individual concerned ISA registration or put them on one of the ISA Barred Lists.

The records kept by the ISA will be constantly updated as fresh information is gathered. If new data indicates that an individual might pose a risk to vulnerable people, they will be put on one of the ISA Barred Lists and their current employer will be informed immediately.

Only applicants who are judged not to pose a risk to vulnerable people can be ISA-registered. Once the scheme has been fully rolled out, employers who work with vulnerable people will only be allowed to recruit people who are ISA-registered.

On the 12 October 2009

• two new ISA barred lists were introduced which will replaced List 99, POCA and POVA.
• Access to these new lists is available as part of an Enhanced CRB Check.
• Eligibility for the Enhanced CRB has been expanded and will be mandatory for all who work with children and vulnerable adults.

From July 2010

• Individuals will be able, via registered/umbrella bodies, to apply to the CRB for ISA registration (Please note that there will be a 5 year phased roll out for individuals who currently work with children and/or vulnerable adults.
• Employers will be able to express an interest in a persons ISA-registration and be informed of any changes to that persons ISA registration status.
• Employers will be able to conduct on line checks of a person’s ISA registration status.

From November 2010

• It will be a legal requirement for new entrants and job movers to register with the ISA if they intend to work with children and/or vulnerable adults.

January 2011-2015

• Existing members will be phased in.