Vetting & Barring Scheme
RFU supports the Vetting & Barring Scheme (15/09/09)
The recent furore in the media regarding the ‘Vetting & Barring Scheme’ (administered by the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA)) which will see the new ISA-registration system introduced next year, has caused many ‘concerned’ calls and emails to the RFU about how it will affect people who work or volunteer with children (or vulnerable adults) in rugby union. This new system is a mandatory addition to the existing Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check process and the two will continue to operate alongside each other for the foreseeable future.
Some of the recent media reports have been poorly presented in that they do not contain all the facts, and many are based on incorrect or misleading information. The legislation went through the Government and House of Lords three years ago, and the start date was deferred for twelve months last October (2008). The general guidance on the Scheme from the Government is almost ready and the guidance specific to sporting organisations will soon follow.
The RFU has been liaising closely with the NSPCC, Home Office and other sports for the last two years to develop polices and procedures in line with the new legislation, and we will continue to do so. We have also been quietly keeping the sport informed of the progress through its network of volunteer CB Safeguarding Managers and Club Safeguarding Officers, and will continue to do so.
The roll-out of the scheme is, very sensibly, being phased in from its new launch date in October 2009. It will start primarily with a legal duty for organisations like the RFU to refer the details of any individuals it bans from working with children or vulnerable adults in the sport to the ISA for consideration to be added to their barred persons lists. It will also be an offence to ‘knowingly’ employ or deploy a barred individual for a role working with children or vulnerable adults.
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There should be no direct effect on rugby clubs and volunteers until the summer of 2010.
In July 2010, a new joint ISA and CRB application form will be released and organisations like the RFU may start to submit applications on behalf of its Constituent Bodies and clubs for ISA-registration alongside the existing CRB process.
From November 2010 it will become a criminal offence to not hold an ISA-registration prior to being deployed into activities ‘working’ with children or vulnerable adults. However, to ease pressure on the system those people who hold a current CRB check will not be required to hold an ISA-registration until they have to renew their CRB clearance after its three year validity period - again a very sensible approach.
Contrary to some reports these checks will continue to be free for volunteers (if done through the RFU), however, checks for paid staff will cost £64 (the cost of a combined CRB and ISA check). Throughout the new application process the applicant themselves will notice little difference to the old system of CRB checks and clubs will only see a number of small, though significant, procedural changes.
The RFU, who currently process CRB application forms for over 12,000 individuals each season, already have plans in place to start a sport-wide training programme on the joint ISA and CRB process from March next year so that by July 2010 all rugby clubs should know how the new legislation will effect them and their workforce. The RFUs Safeguarding team have welcomed the new legislation as it will further bolster the RFUs Safeguarding Policy and procedures and will not only prevent known unsuitable individuals from working with vulnerable people but will also inform the team immediately if someone previously thought to be safe is found to pose a significant risk at any time in the future.
More information can be found at http://clubs.rfu.com/Clubs/portals/RUSafe/ or from your CB Safeguarding Manager or Club Safeguarding Officer.
Nic Scott | Equity, Inclusion & Safeguarding Manager
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