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VBS Media Coverage

Friday 11 September 2009

The CRB is aware of the extensive media coverage today regarding the additional safeguards coming into place with the Vetting & Barring Scheme in October 2009 and later in July 2010.  These reports are being carefully monitored and the CRB is liaising closely with Home Office and Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) colleagues to address the issues raised. 

The CRB would like to clarify that:

• Parents who make their own arrangement to transport their children to activities do not need to registered with the ISA;
• However, if parents are transporting children in an official capacity (i.e. at the request of activity provider), they will be required by law to register with the ISA but only if they do this regularly each month or on three or more occasions in any one month. 
• The activity provider will be required by law to ensure that these helpers are not barred from working with children. 
• People who volunteer to do this will not need to pay the ISA-registration fee. 
• From July 2010, all new employees, those moving jobs and volunteers who want to work with children or vulnerable adults can register with the ISA.
• From November 2010, all new employees and volunteers who want to work with children or vulnerable adults must be ISA-registered. 

In the past five years CRB checks have prevented around 98,000 unsuitable people from working with children and vulnerable adults and recent research suggests that employers recognise the importance of CRB checks to the protection of children and vulnerable adults.  The new Vetting and Barring Scheme will build upon this success and further enhance the protection afforded to these vulnerable groups. When used together, a CRB and ISA-registration check will provide employers with the most comprehensive vetting and checking service on offer in the world today.

More information on ISA and VBS can be obtained by calling 0300 123 1111 or by visiting the ISA website at www.isa-gov.org.uk