ISA chairman Roger Singleton call for changes to vetting and barring
The Government's chief advisor on child safety is to recommend key changes to the Vetting and Barring scheme once a review of the system is concluded in December.
In an interview with the Guardian on Monday, Sir Roger Singleton, chairman of the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA), said that it would be 'foolish to blindly ignore' the public backlash after it was revealed that parents taking part in regular volunteering activities would be required to sign on to the new register. He would not disclose any details about the likely recommendations of the review, but said that they would be aimed at simplifying the legislation.
Under the safeguarding scheme, which was launched two weeks ago and will be phased in over the next five years, anyone who works with children or vulnerable adults, either on a paid or voluntary basis, will be required to join a register of suitability, operated by the ISA.
Employers can check the register and from November 2010, it will be compulsory for anyone who is a new worker or who is moving jobs to join it.
Sir Roger told the newspaper that the DCSF has received a stream of letters criticising the scheme, but said he remained committed to preventing unsuitable people from working with children. However, he added that the range of questions coming into the DCSF suggested that the scheme in its present form is not clear.
He said, 'Once you have a broad approach then immediately you are on the receiving end of a whole range of questions, on what about this and what about that? ... and obviously you cannot have legislation that is woolly. You have to be clear about whether you are breaking the law or not.'
The ISA receives around 400 notifications a month where local authorities, schools or voluntary organisations have dismissed staff or volunteers amid serious concerns about their behaviour, he said.
