Safer recruitment
The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, which came in to effect in 2008, introduced a new Vetting and Barring Scheme for all those working with children and young people. As part of the new scheme, the Department announced the tightening of existing regulations and issued guidance on the implications of this legislation.
The guidance, Safeguarding children and safer recruitment in education, was issued on 14 November 2006. The guidance is current, though as of October 2009, DCSF is working on updating it. Updates will be announced here as soon as they are available.
Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA): Vetting and Barring Scheme
From 12 October 2009, a new duty to share information and a set of increased safeguards were introduced under the Vetting and Barring Scheme, as administered by the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA). For further information and guidance, visit the 'Vetting and Barring Scheme' section of the Every Child Matters (ECM) website.
Safer Recruitment online training
The online training package, Safer Recruitment, is for headteachers, school governors and other school staff involved in recruitment, to ensure that interviews to appoint staff reflect the importance of safeguarding children. Safer Recruitment training became mandatory for the recruitment of school staff from 1 January 2010.
Pre-appointment checks on staff
Information about the checks that DCSF advises should be made on all people working in an education service. This includes information about the ISA barred lists.
Mandatory Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks
Information and guidance about the CRB and the duty to obtain enhanced CRB disclosures for all new appointments to the schools workforce and those who have been out of the workforce for more than three months.
Last updated: 15 February 2010
