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17 Feb 2011

A criminal reduction in child worker checks?

The government is proposing to roll back Labour's vetting and barring scheme (VBS) and to replace the existing system with a more efficient and effective system. The changes to the VBS are among a series of measures contained in the government's "Protection of Freedoms" Bill, published last week.

The previous government set up the VBS in 2009. Under the scheme individuals who had direct or indirect contact with children and vulnerable adults would be required to register with the Independent Safeguarding Authority (the ISA), depending on whether their profession was classified as controlled or regulated activity. Registration for the first wave of workers and volunteers with the VBS was halted on 15 June last year pending the remodeling of the system.

The government has proposed the following changes to the VBS and criminal records regime:

Limit checks to just those working most closely and regularly with children and vulnerable adults. This would halve the number of checks carried out;
letting criminal records checks be transferred between employers;
ending the requirement for those working or volunteering with vulnerable groups and children to register with the VBS and then be continuously monitored by the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA); and
stopping misuse of the checking system by employers .
The Bill is expected to become law by early 2012 and the new regime would be introduced as soon as possible after this. Until then existing requirements concerning CRB will remain in place.

What does this mean for employers?

The changes will cut-down on bureaucracy and so are likely to be welcomed by employers, workers and volunteers alike. However the VBS has not been abolished, but its activities reduced. Under the new system there may be greater emphasis placed on employers to ensure that appropriate screening takes place. Whereas in the past there was a risk of employers simply ticking boxes the new system may require employers to make more meaningful checks.

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