Changes to Vetting and Barring Scheme Friday, June 18, 2010 - 15:15

News this week revealed that there will be a review of the entire Vetting and Barring Scheme for people working with children and vulnerable adults in England and Wales and that one part of it - voluntary registration - has been halted.

NIACE understands, from Home Office documents, that Lifelong Learning providers should continue to follow and work within the framework of changes that came into force on 12 October 2009. Providers should note that since January 2009, the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) has been making independent barring decisions and will continue to maintain the constantly updated lists for those barred from working with vulnerable adults.

Existing Criminal Records Bureau checks will continue. Therefore anyone who should apply for checks needs to continue to do so. Employers are still legally bound to refer information to the ISA if they have moved or removed individuals because they have harmed, or there is a risk of harm, to a vulnerable adult.

Viv Berkeley, a Programme Director at NIACE, said:

"NIACE welcomes that safeguarding vulnerable adults, of which a re-modelled Vetting and Barring Scheme will be a part, remains a Government priority. We support the Government's intention to bring criminal records and VBS regimes back to ‘common sense levels'. However safeguarding should never go away. Learners of any age always need to feel safe."

The NIACE publication Safer practice, safer learning sets out the principles and practice surrounding a whole organisational approach to safeguarding. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has commissioned NIACE to produce a 2nd edition which will take into account any new changes the Government introduces.