Vetting & Barring Scheme

New Legislation to Safeguard Vulnerable Groups 

The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 has established new provisions in Northern Ireland aimed at strengthening current vetting arrangements to protect children and vulnerable adults.   

The legislation and the Vetting and Barring Scheme it creates will have a number of features including:
- The creation of an Independent Safeguarding Authority to register people working with children and vulnerable adults and to maintain lists of those barred from such work. 
- Introducing a requirement for staff and volunteers working in specified positions to register with the ISA and pay a registration fee. 
- Placing a requirement on employers to check whether an individual working in specified positions is registered with the ISA prior to employing them, by way of an online check. 

This legislation will have a considerable impact on organisations recruiting and employing staff and volunteers.  While the Vetting and Barring scheme will not be fully operational until 12 October 2009, the Volunteer Development Agency is helping organisations to prepare for the new arrangements by hosting a series of FREE information sessions, beginning in October 2008. 

These information sessions will be held in various locations across Northern Ireland and will be tailored to the specific issues of the Voluntary/Community, Health and Education sectors. For further information and to book your place click here.