The government plans to change the vetting and barring scheme (VBS) so a large portion of people working or volunteering with vulnerable groups will no longer have to register with the VBS and be continuously monitored.
Now, only those working closely and who have regular contact with children and vulnerable adults need to register with the scheme and undergo Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) checks.
The government estimates the plans will free around nine million people from the scheme.
The news has been welcomed by many charities which have warned that too much red tape around working with children and vulnerable adults would deter people from volunteering.
Barnardo’s chief executive Anne Marie Carrie said:
"This is a victory for common sense. There is already enough safeguarding in place for people who have unsupervised, substantial access to children. This approach will make it easier for grandparents, parents and neighbours, who should be able to play an important role in a child’s life, without unnecessary red tape.
“No system will ever entirely protect children. Employers will need to be supported to establish systems which will regularly check staff and volunteers who have substantial unsupervised access to children. However they shouldn’t feel the onus is on them entirely, safeguarding is everybody’s business.”
The proposals, which come after a comprehensive review of the existing system which was halted last year, include:
• merging the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Independent Safeguarding Authority to form a streamlined new body providing a proportionate barring and criminal records checking service
• a large reduction in the number of positions requiring checks. Only those working closely and regularly with children and vulnerable adults will need them
• portability of criminal records checks between jobs to cut down on needless bureaucracy
• a end to a requirement for those working or volunteering with vulnerable groups to register with the VBS and then be continuously monitored
• stopping employers who knowingly request criminal records checks on individuals who are not entitled to them
The government will also keep the scope of CRB checks under review to ensure that they are not putting people off volunteering.
Necessary changes in law will be included in the Protection of Freedoms Bill. Subject to parliamentary approval, the Bill is expected to become law by early 2012.
The new regime would be introduced as soon as possible after this.
