Criminal Records Bureau

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• Criminal Records Bureau
• Umbrella Body
• Andrew Lord - General Manager

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Topics

• Current CRB Processing Times
• Common Mistakes on Application Forms
• Criminal Record Checks - Overseas Staff
• New Independent Safeguarding Authority
• New ISA Vetting and Barring Scheme
• Questions Answers

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CRB Processing Times

• Enhanced checks has dipped below the 90 in 28
  days target (87 in Dec 2008). 
• POVA Firsts 98 within 48 hours and 100 within
  72 hours (weekends and bank holidays are
  excluded).
• Tracking CRB progress can be accessed online at
  www.crb.gov.uk/tracking (with Form No.
  applicants D.O.B.)
• Most delays due to incomplete forms/missing
  information

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Common Mistakes

• D.O.B.- section A different to Section X- two
  different dates in section X
• Middle name missing- driving licence no.
  indicates middle initial
• 5 years continuous address history
• Not completing form in black ink
• Not using capital letters

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Common Mistakes (continued)

• Ticking rather than putting X in boxes
• Using correction fluid
• Insufficient ID documents
• Signing Section Y in error
• Surname at birth / Incorrect title- If Ms or
  Mrs, different surname at birth is required

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Criminal Records Checks for Staff from Overseas

• CRB Enhanced Disclosures provide criminal
  information from the UK only
• Many countries will issue criminal record checks
  / good conduct certificates
• Best practice is to obtain these checks on
  workers from abroad (where possible)
• Information on obtaining overseas checks is now
  on CRB website

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New Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA)

• Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 is
  legislation to create the ISA and enact the
  Vetting Barring Scheme
• From 20th January 2009 the ISA is responsible for
  List 99, POCA and POVA registers
• Referrals must now be sent to  Independent
  Safeguarding Authority, PO Box 181, DARLINGTON
  DL1 9FA.
• October 2009 New Vetting Barring Scheme,
  decision on suitability by ISA, not the employer

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Vetting Barring SchemeA Brief Overview

• Introduced in response to the Bichard Report and
  enacted by Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act
  2006, the new Scheme
• Widens range of jobs/roles subject to check.
• Free online check if person has had CRB check.
• Employers notified id employee becomes barred.
• Due to start Oct 09, new employees must
  registered.
• Existing staff to be phased in under transitional
  arrangements.

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Vetting Barring Scheme

• Applies to all staff involved in Regulated and
  Controlled activity involving contact with
  children or vulnerable adults
• Regulated Activity
• Activity thats (once a month) frequent or (3
  days in 30) intensive (e.g. care, supervision,
  advice, transportation)
• In a specified place (e.g. care homes, schools)
• Fostering Childcare
• Certain positions of responsibility (e.g. school
  governor, director of social services)

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Vetting Barring Scheme

• Controlled Activity
• Frequent or intensive support work in general
  health setting, NHS and further education (e.g.
  cleaners, catering staff, receptionists, car park
  attendants)
• Individuals working for specified organisations
  (e.g. local authority) with frequent access to
  sensitive records on children and Vulnerable
  adults
• Support work in adult social care setting (e.g.
  day centre cleaners and those with access to
  social care records)

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Vetting Barring Scheme

• ISA Registration
• Those who wish to work with children, or
  vulnerable adults in a controlled or
  regulated activity must be registered.
• ISA registration will confirm that there is no
  known reason why an individual should not work
  with vulnerable adults or children
• New application form will allow
• ISA Registration only or
• CRB Disclosure only or
• Combined ISA Registration CRB Disclosure
• Applications via a CRB registered body

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Vetting Barring Scheme

• One off lifetime ISA registration
• Cost 64.00 for ISA registration only and the
  same price for combined ISA registration and CRB
  disclosure.
• Employers duties and responsibilities
• criminal offence to allow a barred person or
  someone not yet registered with the ISA, to work
  for any length of time in any regulated activity
• a criminal offence if an employer fails to check
  a persons status

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Vetting Barring Scheme

• Employees duties and responsibilities
• barred individuals must not take work with
  vulnerable people
• individuals must be registered with the ISA
• criminal offence for barred person to work
• Domestic employers (e.g. service user employing
  their own care worker or PA)
• do not have to check that their employees are ISA
  registered
• criminal offence for barred person to take work

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Vetting Barring Scheme

• What Happens When?
• From October 2009New job applicants will need to
  apply for ISA registration. Employers and
  voluntary organisations working with children and
  vulnerable adults cannot recruit workers who are
  not ISA registered
• From 2010Existing employees and volunteers with
  no CRB check must apply for ISA
  registrationExisting employees and volunteers
  with CRB checks will also need to apply for ISA
  registration, starting with staff whose CRB
  checks are the oldest.

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Questions Answers?

• For more information
• CRB website www.crb.gov.uk ISA
  website www.isa-gov.org.uk