Vetting and Vetting and Barring SchemeBarring SchemeNorthern IrelandNorthern Ireland

The VBS Implementation TeamThe VBS Implementation TeamDepartment of Health, Social Services and Public Department of Health, Social Services and Public

SafetySafety

Department of EducationDepartment of Education

AgendaAgenda Introduction Introduction Damian Brady, DCALDamian Brady, DCAL Overview of the VBSOverview of the VBS Eilis McDaniel, DHSSPSEilis McDaniel, DHSSPS Focus Workshops Focus Workshops

Duty to refer: Where within sport does the duty lie?Duty to refer: Where within sport does the duty lie? Duty to be ISA-registered: Who within sport is Duty to be ISA-registered: Who within sport is

required to be ISA registered?required to be ISA registered? Duty to be ISA-registered: Who within sport is Duty to be ISA-registered: Who within sport is

required to check?required to check? Phasing: A phasing strategy appropriate for sport – Phasing: A phasing strategy appropriate for sport –

what would it look like?what would it look like? Communications: How do we ensure that sport is Communications: How do we ensure that sport is

VBS-ready?VBS-ready? Sport across borders: Specific VBS issues – what Sport across borders: Specific VBS issues – what

are they?are they? Feedback from WorkshopsFeedback from Workshops NGB representativeNGB representative Question and Answer SessionQuestion and Answer Session Damian Brady & Damian Brady &

Eilís McDanielEilís McDaniel

What is the VBS?What is the VBS?

Direct response to recommendation Direct response to recommendation 19 of the Bichard Inquiry (Soham)19 of the Bichard Inquiry (Soham)

Membership Scheme for those who Membership Scheme for those who work in specified positions with work in specified positions with children and vulnerable adultschildren and vulnerable adults

Established under the Safeguarding Established under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (NI) Order 2007Vulnerable Groups (NI) Order 2007

New Independent Safeguarding New Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) central to the schemeAuthority (ISA) central to the scheme

What is the VBS?What is the VBS?

Creates statutory duties for employers Creates statutory duties for employers (volunteer managers), employees (volunteer managers), employees (volunteers), personnel suppliers, (volunteers), personnel suppliers, professional registration and professional registration and regulation bodiesregulation bodies

Creates offences for non-compliance Creates offences for non-compliance with statutory dutieswith statutory duties

Replaces existing requirements under Replaces existing requirements under POCVA and DE barring regimePOCVA and DE barring regime

Who does it impact?Who does it impact?

Those who work in regulated or Those who work in regulated or controlled activity with children or controlled activity with children or vulnerable adults, those who employ them vulnerable adults, those who employ them and those who register or regulate themand those who register or regulate them

Extensive range of activities come within Extensive range of activities come within scope of the schemescope of the scheme

Estimate 500k individuals will be Estimate 500k individuals will be impactedimpacted

Comprehensive definition of vulnerable Comprehensive definition of vulnerable adultadult

Statutory DutiesStatutory DutiesEmployees/volunteersEmployees/volunteers

Duty to be subject to monitoring Duty to be subject to monitoring [register with the ISA][register with the ISA]

Offence for non-compliance [fine]Offence for non-compliance [fine] Duty not to seek or obtain work in Duty not to seek or obtain work in

regulated activity if on a barred listregulated activity if on a barred list Offence for non-compliance [fine Offence for non-compliance [fine

and/or imprisonment]and/or imprisonment]

Statutory DutiesStatutory DutiesEmployers/Volunteer Employers/Volunteer

ManagersManagers Duty to check whether an Duty to check whether an

employee/volunteer is subject to employee/volunteer is subject to monitoring [registered with the ISA]monitoring [registered with the ISA]

Offence for non-compliance [fine]Offence for non-compliance [fine] Duty not to employ an individual who is Duty not to employ an individual who is

not subject to monitoringnot subject to monitoring Offence for non-compliance [fine]Offence for non-compliance [fine] Duty not to employ a barred individualDuty not to employ a barred individual Offence for non-compliance [fine and/or Offence for non-compliance [fine and/or

imprisonment]imprisonment]

Statutory DutiesStatutory DutiesEmployers/Volunteer Employers/Volunteer

ManagersManagers Duty to refer to ISADuty to refer to ISA Offence for non-compliance [fine]Offence for non-compliance [fine] Duty to provide information to the Duty to provide information to the

ISA at its requestISA at its request Offence for non-compliance [fine]Offence for non-compliance [fine]

ProcessesProcessesHow do I register with the How do I register with the

ISA?ISA? Application process through AccessNIApplication process through AccessNI Cost for registration (£58)Cost for registration (£58) Registration starts on 26 July 2010Registration starts on 26 July 2010 New employees/volunteers or those New employees/volunteers or those

moving jobs will register firstmoving jobs will register first Existing employees/volunteers will Existing employees/volunteers will

register in accordance with a phasing register in accordance with a phasing strategystrategy

ProcessesProcessesHow do I check ISA How do I check ISA

registration?registration? Two methodsTwo methods

On-line check [free]On-line check [free] Enhanced Disclosure [£30]Enhanced Disclosure [£30]

ProcessesProcessesWhen and how do I refer?When and how do I refer?

Withdraw permission for individual to Withdraw permission for individual to engage in regulated activity engage in regulated activity [dismissal, transfer etc.] because:[dismissal, transfer etc.] because: He has engaged in relevant conduct orHe has engaged in relevant conduct or The harm test is satisfiedThe harm test is satisfied

Refer directly to the ISA on forms Refer directly to the ISA on forms providedprovided

Starts 12 October 2009 under the Starts 12 October 2009 under the SVG OrderSVG Order

ProcessesProcessesWill I know an employee/volunteer Will I know an employee/volunteer

is barred?is barred?

Individuals who are ISA-registered Individuals who are ISA-registered will be continuously monitoringwill be continuously monitoring

Employers register an interest to Employers register an interest to ensure that they are informed of the ensure that they are informed of the outcome of the continuous outcome of the continuous monitoring process [barring the monitoring process [barring the ultimate sanction]ultimate sanction]

Key DatesKey Dates 1 January 20081 January 2008 – ISA established – ISA established February 2009February 2009 – Transfer from POCVA and DE – Transfer from POCVA and DE

Unsuitable Persons List to new ISA barred listsUnsuitable Persons List to new ISA barred lists 13 March 200913 March 2009 – Start of ISA barring decision- – Start of ISA barring decision-

making under POCVA and DE regulationsmaking under POCVA and DE regulations 12 October 200912 October 2009 – Start of duties to refer and – Start of duties to refer and

provide information to the ISA under the SVG provide information to the ISA under the SVG OrderOrder

26 July 201026 July 2010 – Start of duty to be subject to – Start of duty to be subject to monitoring [ISA-registered] and to check subject monitoring [ISA-registered] and to check subject to monitoring statusto monitoring status