Safeguarding
Independent Safeguarding Authority delayed
By John Plummer, Third Sector Online, 23 March 2009
Government scheme to list those who fail criminal record checks on hold until 2010
The Government's new vetting and barring scheme to protect children and vulnerable adults has been delayed until July next year.
The scheme will establish a single body, the Independent Safeguarding Authority, to administer the list of people who have failed criminal records checks.
There are currently three separate lists maintained by two different government departments: the Protection of Children Act list, held by the Department for Children, Schools and Families; the Protection of Vulnerable Adults list, also maintained by the DCSF on behalf of the Department of Health; and what used to be called List 99, which is information held under the Education Act 2002 and held by the DCSF.
This system was due to be replaced in October, but the Home Office has announced that it will not now happen until 26 July 2010.
Clare Smith, director of human resources at Leonard Cheshire Disability, which has 7,000 staff and 3,000 volunteers, said she was pleased about the delay.
"This means we will get a year without having to face the huge costs of rechecking all our staff," she said.
The new system was likely to cost the charity £500,000 and a huge amount of work, she said.
Meg Hillier, the identity minister at the Home Office, said: "We already have one of the most comprehensive vetting systems in the world. Once employers start being updated with new information about their employees from July 2010, it will offer even greater protection."
Safeguarding Roadshows for the Voluntary and Community Sector
The Children and Young People's Network are running two more locality based roadshows around Safeguarding and the Voluntary and Community Sector. This is a follow up from the initial training needs analysis that was carried out around integrated working and Common Assessment Framework processes. We aim to structure the roadshows with a very basic awareness raising approach to integrated working, workforce reform and what that means to the sector, along with some clear safeguarding messages around safer recruitment, child protection policies and procedures. Following these roadshows, we plan to hold a multi agency conference in collaboration with Calderdale's Workforce Development Team and other agencies.
Booking forms and posters for the upcoming Voluntary and Community Sector Safeguarding Roadshows are now available to download below. There will be a free lunch at each Roadshow, with the opportunity to network. There are four Safeguarding roadshows. Here are the dates for your diaries.
Please note that the last Roadshow is on Tuesday 17th February 2008, and not Monday as previously advertised.
|
Mon |
12/01/09 |
Central Halifax |
Square Chapel, Halifax |
10am-2pm |
|
Tues |
17/02/09 |
North East Halifax |
Mixenden Parent Resource Centre |
10am-2pm |
Safeguarding- Everyone's Responsility
Ministerial Announcement on Safeguarding
23 Oct 2008
On 22 October 2008, the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families Ed Balls and Baroness Morgan announced the terms of reference for the planned stocktake of Local Safeguarding Children Boards, a related study of Serious Case Reviews and also that Sir Roger Singleton, Chair of the Independent Safeguarding Authority, will lead a review of safeguarding arrangements in independent schools, non-maintained special schools and boarding schools. http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/resources-and-practice/CM00093/
Contact Point
Calderdale's Improving Information Sharing and Management Project Team (IISaM)
The Calderdale Project Team, who have responsibility for ContactPoint and other aspects of the IISaM agenda, consists of the following team members:
Paul Caladine - Senior Projects Officer (Tel 01422 392647)
Fern Barnett - Information Systems Officer (Tel 01422 392647)
Linda Baillie - Information Systems Officer (Tel 01422 392554)
E-mail address contact.point@calderdale.gov.uk
Contact Point
Contact Point Fact Sheet
Contact Point Overview
Contact Point Updates
The documents available via the links below are intended to give all partners and stakeholders an update on where the ContactPoint Project, both locally and nationally, is currently up to, and advise if there is anything that is required from them to be submitted to the project team. These advisory notices will be sent out from the project team on a monthly basis or sooner if any action is required.
ContactPoint 14 Oct 08
Contact Point Oct 08
Contact Point Sept 08
View the Case Management System (CMS) Analysis Guide here
View the CMS Questionnaire here
View the Workforce Analysis questionnaire here
View the Workforce guidance notes here
Vetting and Barring Scheme to Protect Children and Vulnerable Adults
Latest news
The Department of Health (DH) has issued a document covering the next step in the transition to the new Vetting and Barring Scheme. It includes key points for those who advise employers and recruitment managers, that the DH recomends action on by October 2008. DH Next Step
For your information
The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) has written to all local authorities, as well as voluntary, community and a host of other organisations, regarding the new Vetting and Barring Scheme. This is part of a continuing programme to ensure we have the toughest ever vetting and barring system for all those working with, or seeking to work with, children and vulnerable adults.
Since 31st March 2008, as part of the transition to the new Vetting and Barring Scheme (which starts in October 2009), the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) has advised the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families on barring decisions (List 99, PoCA, PoVA).
In the next stage of transition, subject to Parliamentary approval, from winter 2008 (precise date to be set), employers must send new referrals under these schemes to the ISA, which will take the decisions. Where the ISA asks organisations for information on a case, they must provide it.
By October 2008, employers will need to be aware of these new procedures, while continuing to fulfill existing pre-employment responsibilities: for example, taking up references and conducting checks.
http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/?asset=News&id=111684
http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/_files/ISA%20decision%20message%20to%20stakeholders.doc
A Power Point presentation about the introduction of the new Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) scheme under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 is now available. The purpose of the scheme is to prevent unsuitable people from working with children and vulnerable adults.
Vetting and Barring presentation
Improving the Effectiveness and Impact of Core Groups
The CSCB requested that research was done looking into the effectiveness of core groups. The Quality Assurance Sub Group arranged for a small task group led by Andrew Crabtree, Development Officer to undertake this work. A small sample of case files were audited and a report of the findings was presented to the CSCB.
CWDC Induction Standards Workbook
The Children's Workforce Development Council has issues a workbook for those who are new to a role working in social care services with children and/or young people. Most services are legally required to induct their new staff and CWDC recommends that all social care services should do so. From September 2006 these standards become the recognised ones to meet the induction requirements of the National Minimum Standards that relate to the Care Standards Act 2000. Click on the link below to download the workbook.
CWDC Induction Standards Workbook
Calderdale Safeguarding Children Board
The CSCB was set up as a statutory body in April 2006 in compliance with Section 13 of The Children Act 2004 and replaces the former Calderdale Area Child Protection Committee (ACPC). It is a partnership of all of the relevant statutory, voluntary and community agencies involved in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all of Calderdale's children and young people. Visit the Safeguarding website at www.calderdale-scb.org.uk
Safeguarding Children Update
A summary of the changes to the safeguarding procedures can be downloaded by clicking here.
http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/deliveringservices/informationsharing/