Vetting and Barring Scheme Halted

Very recently the Government has announced that it will halt registration with the Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS) in response to criticism that the scheme is disproportionate, overly burdensome and unduly infringes on civil liberties.  Voluntary registration with the VBS for new employees and job movers working or volunteering with children and vulnerable adults was due to start on 26^th July 2010, with compulsory registration to follow in November 2010.  The VBS is now being reviewed by the Government to see if it can be done at ‘proportionate, common sense levels’.

The VBS is intended to protect children and vulnerable adults by stopping those who pose a known risk from working with them.  The following requirements still remain in force, which came into effect from October 2009:-

(i)              It is a criminal offence for barred individuals to work with children or vulnerable adults in a wider range of posts than previously.  Employers also face criminal prosecution for knowingly employing a barred individual in such circumstances;

(ii)            There are two barring lists administered by the Independent Safeguarding Authority, which can be checked as part of an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau Check.

(iii)          Additional jobs and voluntary positions are covered by the barring arrangements; and

(iv)          Employers, Local Authority’s, professional regulators and inspection bodies have a duty to refer to the ISA any information on an individual working with children or vulnerable adults where they consider them to have caused harm or pose a risk.

For more information on this scheme please call Daven Naghen on 01775 722261 or email daven.naghen@maplesolicitors.com.