20/7/2010 Texting, Face Book, Twitter, etc.

A number of concerns have been raised in sporting circles regarding the use of mobile phone texting, e-mailing and social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. They have been used to good and bad effect. Whilst they can be an effective means of reaching large numbers and promoting our sport generally, they can also be used to groom young athletes, spread conjecture and rumour, discredit individuals be they athletes, coaches, parents, etc. As yet, we do not have guidelines on this matter but suggest the ones recently produced by the NSPCC's Child Protection in Sport Unit are adopted. See Texting and E-mailing Social Networking

28/6/2010 ISA Update

It has been announced that registration with the Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS) will be halted to allow the government to remodel the scheme back to proportionate, common sense levels.

Voluntary registration with the VBS for new employees and job-movers working or volunteering with children and vulnerable adults was due to start on 26 July.

The government recognises that many businesses, community groups and individuals see the current scheme as disproportionate and overly burdensome, and that it unduly infringes on civil liberties.

'However it is also vital that we take a measured approach in these matters. We’ve listened to the criticisms and will respond with a scheme that has been fundamentally remodelled.

'Vulnerable groups must be properly protected in a way that is proportionate and sensible. This redrawing of the vetting and barring scheme will ensure this happens.'

'We shouldn’t be driving a wedge between children and well-meaning adults including people coming forward to volunteer with young people. Such individuals should be welcomed, encouraged, and helped as much as possible, unless it can be shown that children would not be safe in their care.'

'We will look in detail at what should be done to ensure that the scheme meets both these tests.'

The VBS is designed to protect children and vulnerable adults by preventing those who pose a known risk from gaining access to them through their work.

• since January 2009, the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) has been making independent barring decisions. It will continue to maintain two constantly updated lists, one for those barred from working with children, the other for those barred from working with vulnerable adults
• existing requirements concerning Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Access Northern Ireland checks will remain in place, and those entitled to such checks can continue to apply for them
• employers are still legally obliged to refer information to the ISA if they have moved or removed an individual because they have harmed or there is a risk of harm to a member of a vulnerable group.

The scope of the remodelling process – to be co-ordinated by the Home Office in partnership with Department of Health and Department for Education – is currently being finalised and will be announced shortly.

More than 66,000 employers, charities and voluntary groups are now being informed directly of the change. Up-to-date information is also available to businesses, other organisations and individuals on the DirectGov Website or on the Businesslink Website VBS sections.

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18/1/2010 - New Safeguarding and Protecting Children Workshop Launches

Did you know qualified coaches are expected to attend Safeguarding and Protecting Children training every three years?Instead of attending the same workshop again; you can now reinforce and strengthen your understanding by attending a specially developed workshop: Safeguarding and Protecting Children 2: reflecting on practice (SPC2)...read moreDetails of the workshop can be found using the workshop finder.

17/1/2010 ISA Update

You may, or may not, be aware of criticisms levelled at the proposed regulations that were due to come into effect in 2010 (originally 2009). The DCSF Secretary of State commissioned a review to check that the Government had drawn the line in the right place in relation to those who have to register with the Scheme. Sir Roger Singleton’s report - Drawing the Line , recommended that:

• Where organisations such as schools, clubs or groups make the decisions as to which adults should work with their children or vulnerable adults then the requirement to register with the Vetting and Barring Scheme VBS) should apply, subject to the frequent and intensive contact provisions.
• The frequent contact test should normally be met if the work takes place once a week or more (previously the test was if activity happened once a month or more). The intensive contact test should be met if the work takes place on 4 days in one month or more or overnight (previously the test was 3 times in every 30 days or overnight).
• Individuals who go into different schools or similar settings to work with different groups should not be required to register unless their contact with the same group is frequent or intensive.
• The minimum age of registration for young people who engage in regulated activity as part of their continuing education should be reviewed. The Government will make immediate changes to the rules so that the scheme will not require 16, 17 and 18-year-olds in education to register.
• Overseas visitors bringing their own groups of children to the UK , e.g. to international camps or the Olympics, should have a three months exemption from the requirement to register for the work they do with children they have brought to the UK . This provides that they only work with their own group. Once they start work with other groups, then registration will be required.
• Exchange visits lasting less than 28 days, where overseas parents accept the responsibility for the selection of the volunteer host family, should be regarded as private arrangements and the Scheme will not require registration.

Further recommendations made by Sir Roger Singleton mean that the Government will also take action to:

• Consider whether private health practitioners, such as self-employed chiropractors and homoeopathists should be required to register. Current legislation allows them to register but does not require them to.
• Review the continuing need for 'controlled activity'. 'Controlled activity' is defined as a small number of activities where there might be opportunity for contact with children or vulnerable adults, such as working as a hospital or school receptionist, but falls short of the opportunities open to other roles such as nurses or teachers.
• Review the law and the Government's advice on when, in the future, workers who have already secured ISA registration will have to get CRB checks.

This eases the burden on Pentathlon GB to carry out as many checks as before such as

• under 18s helping coach in their clubs
• officials at occasional events

However, it is hoped that the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults is becoming well embedded within the culture of our sport and everyone remains vigilant to draw my and the relevant statutory body’s attention to causes for concern of which there have been a few in recent years.

14/1/2010 ISA Latest

The Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS) is at the heart of the Government's strategy to increase the protection of vulnerable members of our society. The Scheme will help prevent harm from happening to children and vulnerable adults by helping to stop those who are deemed ‘unsuitable to work with children and vulnerable adults’ from working or volunteering with them.

Increased safeguards were introduced on 12 October 2009 when the scope of Regulated Activity was widened and an additional five million more jobs and voluntary positions – including most National Health Service (NHS) jobs - were covered by these new barring arrangements. The three previous barring lists (POCA, POVA and List 99 [and equivalent NI lists]) were replaced by the two new ISA-barred lists.

Anyone wanting to work or volunteer regularly with children or vulnerable adults will be required to register with a new public body called the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA). Employers will also be legally required to check that new employees are ISA-registered. When a person becomes ISA-registered they will be continuously checked and their status reassessed against any new information which may come to light. Employers can register an interest in an individual’s ISA-registration status to be proactively informed of changes in an employee’s registration status.

The VBS is part of a much bigger framework covering the use of information to support public protection. Improved information sharing across government, police forces, education and health organisations and across international boundaries is vital.

This series of Roadshows are free to attend for those responsible for implementing the Scheme in Education, Health, Social Care, Sport, Justice, Faith and the Voluntary Sector. Please check the dates and locations of the series here.

Children's secretary Ed Balls has announced a review of the vetting and barring scheme for people working with children and vulnerable adults following widespread concerns that people will have to register unnecessarily. In a letter to Barry Sheerman, chair of the children, schools and families select committee, Balls said he had asked Independent Safeguarding Authority chair Roger Singleton to examine whether the government had got the balance right in defining what activities should and should not be covered by the scheme.

1/1/2009 ISA

The Home Office has announced that from 12 October 2009 individuals wishing to work or volunteer with children and/or vulnerable adults in a ‘regulated activity’ will need to register with the newly formed Independent Safeguarding Authority ( ISA ). Created under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, it replaces the current List 99, PoCA, PoVA and Disqualification Order regimes. The ISA will decide who is unsuitable to work or volunteer with vulnerable groups. It will base its decisions on pulling together information held by various agencies, Government departments and the Criminal Records Bureau ( CRB ).
The new scheme will have a big impact on current policies and procedures within Modern Pentathlon. It will place a legal responsibility on anyone appointing someone to a post to have checked that their name appears on the Register. This is additional to the CRB check. If their name does not appear on the Register then their services cannot be employed, paid or unpaid.
The cost for an individual to apply to register with the ISA will be a one-off, lifetime fee of £64.00. There will, however, be no charge for volunteers.
Pentathlon GB will outline its procedures in due course but for now, CRB checks will continue and individuals shortly asked to prepare themselves to apply to go on the Register.