Catch 22, the Criminal Records Bureau and the Vetting and Barring Scheme

“The role of the Criminal Records Bureau is to reduce the risk of abuse by ensuring that those who are unsuitable are not able to work with children and vulnerable adults”
The Home Secretary

The Criminal Records Bureau ( CRB ) acts as a ‘one-stop-shop’ for organisations, checking police records and, in relevant cases, information held by the Department of Health ( DH ) and the Department for Education and Skills ( DfES ). 

Catch 22 is an Umbrella Body, registered with the CRB, to provide access to the CRB service to other organisations (Registered Body No. 22631600003). Umbrella Bodies have the same responsibilities as Registered Bodies and must take reasonable steps to ensure that any organisation they are countersigning on behalf of also complies with the relevant responsibilities and obligations.

Umbrella Bodies play an important role in the success of the CRB as they provide the mechanism by which many smaller organisations will access CRB checks.

The Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS)

The VBS, operated by the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA), is designed to ensure that anyone who presents a known risk to vulnerable groups is prevented from working with them. From July 2010, individuals applying for roles working with children and vulnerable adults in a Regulated Activity will be able to register with the ISA.

Those already working in these sectors and remaining in their current roles will not be required to register until much later in the roll-out of the Scheme.

You will be able to apply for registration through a CRB Registered or Umbrella Body and can apply for both the Scheme and a CRB Disclosure using the same form. The CRB will be responsible for the application and monitoring elements of the Scheme as well as issuing Disclosures.

Standard and Enhanced Disclosures.

The two CRB checks are available in cases where an employer is entitled to ask exempted questions under the Exceptions Order to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974.  This includes any organisation whose staff or volunteers work with children or vulnerable adults.  They are issued free to volunteers.

The new ISA Barred Lists have now replaced PoCA, PoVA and List 99. The lists hold details of individuals barred from working in Regulated Activity with children and vulnerable adults, as defined in the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006. 

Standard Disclosure

Standard CRB checks are no longer available for posts working with children and vulnerable adults. Standard checks only reveal information held on PNC.

All other posts covered by the Exceptions Order 1975 to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 will still be entitled to a standard CRB check.

Enhanced Disclosure

A check of the ISA Barred Lists is only available as part of an Enhanced CRB check and eligibility for such a check now extends to include anyone working in a Regulated Activity with a Regulated Activity provider, as defined in the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act.

It will be a criminal offence for barred individuals to seek employment with vulnerable groups and also for employers to knowingly permit them to engage in Regulated Activity.

Please note that:

• ISA registration does not replace the need for CRB checks
• ISA registration commences in 2010, phased in over 5 years
• Applying for an Enhanced CRB check at the same time as ISA registration attracts a reduced charge
• ISA registration for volunteers is free of charge

Handling Disclosure Information

The CRB recognises that the Standard and Enhanced Disclosure information can be extremely sensitive and personal, therefore it has published a Code of Practice and employers’ guidance for recipients of Disclosures to ensure they are handled fairly and used properly.

A copy of the Standard or Enhanced Disclosure will be sent out to the applicant as well as the Registered Body.

Catch 22 is entitled to ask exempted questions under the Exceptions Order to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974 Exceptions Order 1975 or will countersign applications on behalf of people or organisations who themselves are entitled to ask exempted questions.

Our role is to:

• Check and validate the information provided by the applicant on the application form
• Establish the true identity of the applicant, through the examination of a range of documents using guidance provided by the CRB
• Ensure the application form is fully completed and the information it contains is accurate
• Countersign applications to confirm that the organisation has an entitlement to access criminal record information
• To comply with the CRB’s Code of Practice

Charges

Catch 22 charges a fee for Applications as follows:

Standard Disclosure: £40.00 (cost element of Disclosure £26.00)
Enhanced Disclosure: £65.00 (cost element of Disclosure £44.00)

Discounted rates are available for multiple/regular requirements

Legislation states that the applicant must pay; however, employers may decide to reimburse the fee upon the decision to offer employment.

Information

Further information may be obtained by calling Don Searle at Catch 22 on 020 7821 1134 or by visiting the CRB website

A useful list of Frequently Asked Questions and the answers is obtainable here too.