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"New era in safeguarding begins",says Sir Roger Singleton, as duties to refer begins

News Release issued by the COI News Distribution Service on 12 October 2009

A new era in safeguarding in England, Wales and Northern Ireland was welcomed today, by Sir Roger Singleton, Chair of the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA). From October 12th organisations including those in the health; social care and the education sector (and all other regulated activity providers) have new duties to refer information to the ISA if they have concerns that an employee or volunteer has caused harm or there is a risk of harm to a child or vulnerable adult.

This development will help to ensure that information which does or could raise safeguarding concerns is sent to the ISA, for their detailed consideration.

Commenting today, Sir Roger said:

“Today is the first major step in enhancing safeguarding to vulnerable groups, since the creation of the ISA. It brings with it a new era, where – under the Vetting and Barring Scheme – we are strengthening information sharing with employers and regulatory bodies to reduce the opportunities for unsuitable people having access to children and vulnerable adults.

The 400 plus referrals that the ISA already receives a month are testament to the fact that everyday employers are removing individuals from their jobs because of their inappropriate behaviour or actions. Once this information is referred to us, our job is to independently assess the individual and decide, based on all the information that is known, whether the individual poses an on-going risk of harm. I know all employers will welcome today’s developments which will also further increase their ability to safeguard vulnerable groups.”

Additionally, from today the scope of a bar has been widened so that barred individuals in have even fewer opportunities to work or volunteer with vulnerable groups. A series of criminal penalties have also been introduced and the barred lists have been streamlined down to two.

This is a key phase in the delivery of the Government’s Vetting and Barring Scheme, which from July 2010, will initiate a 5 year phasing strategy for the registration, through the CRB and AccessNI, of individuals who wish to work or volunteer with children or vulnerable adults. This includes all new staff in schools, etc; being ISA-Registered from November 2010.

For further information, contact Karen Leech Communications Manager.

Notes to Editors

1. Those who have a statutory duty to refer information to the ISA include:

Regulated activity providers;
Personnel suppliers;
Local authorities;
Education and Library Boards;
Health and Social Care (HSC) bodies;
Keepers of Registers named in the legislation; and
Supervisory authorities named in the legislation.

2. October 12th will see:

* the ISA will administer two barring lists rather than the three lists that is currently maintained by two different Government departments:

Protection Of Children Act (POCA), Protection of Vulnerable Adults (PoVA) and List 99;

* the introduction of barring from ‘regulated activities’ – people included on the new barred lists will be barred from a much wider range of jobs

and activities than before, particularly in areas of work with vulnerable adults such as the NHS and the Prison Service;

* a new duty to share information - employers, social services and professional regulators will have to notify the ISA of relevant information so

individuals who pose a threat to vulnerable groups can be identified and barred from working with these groups.

* criminal offences will come into force as it will become a crime for a barred individual to seek or undertake work with vulnerable groups; and for

employers to knowingly take them on.

3. Further information on the ISA’s referral process can be found at www.isa-gov.org.uk

Contacts:

NDS Enquiries
Phone: For enquiries please contact the above department
ndsenquiries@coi.gsi.gov.uk

Karen Leech
Phone: 01325 953731
karen.leech@isa.gsi.gov.uk