| The Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) is a | | | | records about children, i.e. Local Authority. |
| non-departmental public body working in partnership | | | | For a detailed explanation regarding regulated and |
| with the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) created to | | | | controlled activity and for more information please |
| help prevent unsuitable people from working with | | | | refer to |
| children and vulnerable adults. The ISA is part of the | | | | Implementation? |
| new Vetting and Barring Scheme in England, Wales | | | | The ISA came into existence on 2 January 2008 and |
| and Northern Ireland. | | | | from October 2009, the increased safeguards will |
| What does this mean? | | | | come into effect and will be rolled out over a period of |
| Individuals currently working or intend to work with | | | | 5 years. |
| children and vulnerable adults in either regulated or | | | | Exceptions? |
| controlled activities will be required to undergo an | | | | Yes; mostly those involved in 'domestic employment', |
| enhanced vetting procedure. | | | | such as nannies; that have been hired directly by |
| It is now a criminal offence for individuals barred by the | | | | private families. |
| ISA to work or apply to work (paid or unpaid) with | | | | If it is a nanny agency london for example, it is the |
| children or vulnerable adults in a wide range of posts. | | | | responsibility of the agency to register them. However, |
| It will be a criminal offence to take on someone for a | | | | if the nanny is through a private arrangement, the |
| regulated activity without checking their status under | | | | parents are not legally required to check their ISA |
| the vetting service and/or allow a barred individual to | | | | status and there is no duty on the nanny to be |
| work in such an activity. | | | | registered. |
| It will be mandatory to check the status of someone | | | | This applies to all areas covered throughout England, |
| before they work or volunteer in a controlled activity. | | | | Wales and Northern Ireland including London and other |
| Regulated or Controlled? | | | | major cities. |
| There is an important distinction between 'regulated | | | | Repercussions? |
| activity' and 'controlled activity'. | | | | Fully enhanced safeguarding in childcare is crucial. |
| 'Regulated activity' is defined by the ISA as 'any | | | | Nannies are often in sole care of children, and it is |
| activity of a specified nature that involves contact with | | | | imperative this form of childcare is safeguarded |
| children or vulnerable adults frequently, intensively and | | | | appropriately, in-line with all other forms of childcare |
| or overnight. | | | | available. All nannies have to be registered and vetted |
| 'Controlled activity' is related to more limited areas of | | | | childcare agency in london are very efficient at this but |
| work such as Ancillary support workers in the NHS | | | | private families should also be encouraged to check |
| and further education settings, and those working for | | | | this. |
| organisations who have frequent access to sensitive | | | | |