The law has changed

On 12 October 2009, new measures were introduced to help prevent unsuitable people undertaking paid or volunteer work with children or vulnerable adults.

It’s called the Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS) and the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) has been set up to help implement the Scheme and make decisions about who should be barred from working with vulnerable people. Those decisions are legally binding too. Failing to comply could result in both the employer and the employee or volunteer being prosecuted, or even going to prison.

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, they must be ISA-registered. From then on it will be illegal to employ new people who are not ISA-registered.

Spread the word

To assist you in informing the people or organisations you help, we have created an online toolkit containing a selection of downloadable material, from posters to inserts.

You will notice that there are four variations of each type of material. Because this new law is so far reaching, we’ve focused the wording to communicate the message to different groups in the most appropriate way. Please select the material you feel is most suited to your audience. You should find all the tools you need here, but if you need more information about the ISA, VBS, the ISA-registration process, who is affected and how, please visit www.isa-gov.org.uk or call 0300 123 1111*.

*Calls to 03 numbers should cost no more than geographic 01 or 02 calls, and may be part of inclusive minutes subject to your call provider and your call package.