Recent Media Coverage
You may be aware of the recent media coverage
on the Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS) and in particular the role
of the Independent Safeguarding Authority. We would like to clarify
and correct some of the information which you may have seen or
read.
- The ISA’s role within the VBS is to make the barring
decisions and place individuals on either
the ISA’s Children’s Barred List or the ISA’s Vulnerable Adult’s
Barred List, or both.
- The application process for ISA-Registration
will be handled by the Criminal Records
Bureau (CRB).
- Of the up to 11.3 million people that it is anticipated will
register with the Scheme over the next five years, the ISA will
only assess those individuals that are referred to
us on the grounds that they pose a possible risk of harm to
vulnerable groups.
- It is therefore anticipated that only a relatively
small percentage of all those working in regulated
activity will be referred to and assessed by the ISA.
- Anyone the ISA is considering barring from working with
children and vulnerable adults will know the reasons for that
consideration. We will share with them all the
information on which we rely.
- Those we are considering barring have (except in the case of
the most serious of criminal convictions where the ISA is under a
statutory obligation to bar) the opportunity to make
‘representations’ and in doing so ‘put their side
of the story’. The ISA will take any information they provide into
account when making a final decision – this may include gathering
further information.
The Vetting and Barring Scheme runs a contact
centre which will be able to provide further answers to your
questions, Its number is 0300 123 1111
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