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The planned vetting scheme for people working with children and vulnerable adults is going to be remodelled. The Government has called an immediate halt to the requirement for registration with the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA).

Registration was due to start on a voluntary basis on 26 July 2010 with compulsory registration from November 2011. This would have covered staff in the education and health services, care sector, as well as many volunteers and charity groups.

The Home Secretary, Theresa May, announced on 15 June 2010 that the Vetting and Barring Scheme has been put on hold because the new Government believes the Scheme would be disproportionate, burdensome and infringe on civil liberties.

The Vetting and Barring Scheme was introduced to improve child safety in the wake of the murder of two young girls by school caretaker, Ian Huntley, in Soham in 2002. There were widely reported objections, particularly from children's authors and school leaders, to it being an over-reaction. Criticisms of the Scheme included the apparently low threshold of required contact with children before registration was required. Press coverage highlighted that this may deter many from volunteering in schools and other settings.

With full details of how the scheme will change yet to be finalised, Theresa May has said there is an intention to scale it back to "common sense levels". In the meantime, various other aspects of the scheme will remain in force, including the following:

(i) the ISA will maintain two lists, one in respect of people who are considered unsuitable to work with children and one in respect of vulnerable adults

(ii) the duty of employers and others to refer information to the ISA will continue

(iii) it will remain a criminal offence to employ barred individuals

Employers should also continue to carry out appropriate recruitment checks, including Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks where appropriate or required by law.

The Government said it would be informing more than 66,000 organisations, including employers, charities and voluntary groups of the details of the change.

If you would like further information on any of the issues raised in this article please contact Laura McFadyen on mailto:employment@stephens-scown.co.uk or  call her on 01392 210700.