Voluntary Action Maidstone's Criminal Records Bureau umbrella service is now well established. 

You may be aware that the Vetting & Barring Scheme (VBS) which was due to be introduced by central government in July 2010 has been suspended. 

In February 2011, the Government announced radical changes to the criminal records checking system (CRB/VBS) as part of the Freedoms Bill.  It is anticipated that this will come into law in early 2012 and that changes to the CRB process will be in placeas soon as is practical after that.  It is expected that the remit of the CRB will become more focussed.  The current CRB process and duty to refer (see below) will remain until the changes come into effect.  Watch this space for updates.

You may know that the Criminal Records Bureau does not accept applications from organisations unless they are a “Registered Body” and submit at least 100 applications within any 12 month period within the last 18 months.  Some local voluntary and community groups are able to use their own regional or national structures to access checks, but many more local groups are not able to do that.  These groups must access CRB checks through an umbrella body such as VAM.

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CRB UPDATE - MARCH 2011 - IMPORTANT

The CRB has just announced that the cost of an enhanced check for paid staff is increasing from £36 to £44 on 6th April.

Checks for volunteers remain free of charge.

VAM has also reviewed its own CRB administration charge and from 6th April this will be £20 for both paid staff and volunteers.

Therefore, total costs for CRB checks from 6th April are:

Volunteer check £20 (increase of £5)

Paid staff check £64 (increase of £9)

More details are available here.

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We see each applicant for a short face to face meeting where we check the form has been completed properly and check and record ID.

For more information about Voluntary Action Maidstone's CRB umbrella service, contact June Smith.

“The duty to refer” – reminder for employers of paid/unpaid staff working with children or vulnerable adults:

From 12 October 2009, if you remove someone you employ or for whom you are responsible, from regulated activity or controlled activity, or if they leave while under investigation for allegedly causing harm or posing a risk of harm, you are legally obliged to refer this information to the ISA (Independent Safeguarding Authority).

Failure to do so is an offence and will carry a significant penalty. 

Further guidance on how to make a referral to the ISA can be found on the ISA website (www.isa.homeoffice.gov.uk).

This is a requirement of the new Vetting & Barring Scheme (VBS) which is being run by the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA).

Although the VBS has been suspended (see above), this duty to refer still remains.

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