Vetting and Barring scheme rules relaxed
Melanie Defries
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
The controversial Vetting and Barring scheme is to be relaxed so that only adults who work with children once a week or more will need to register with the Independent Safeguarding Authority.
The changes have been recommended by Sir Roger Singleton, the Government's Chief Advisor on the Safety of Children and chair of the ISA, after he was asked to review the scheme in September by children's secretary Ed Balls.
Sir Roger has concluded that individuals should register with the scheme if their work with children takes place on four or more days per month. Initially, adults would have had to register if they worked with children once a month, raising fears that even parents who took part in occasional volunteering activities would have to register (Analysis, 7 October). Sir Roger has also confirmed the scheme will not intervene in private arrangements made between parents and friends.
FURTHER INFORMATION
'Drawing the line - A report on the Government's Vetting and Barring Scheme' is at publications.everychildmatters.gov.uk.
