Website of the Department of Health

Vetting and Barring Scheme safeguards introduced

Increased safeguards have now been introduced under the Vetting and Barring Scheme, from October 12th 2009:

• It is now a criminal offence for individuals barred by the ISA to work or apply to work with children or vulnerable adults in a wide range of posts - including most NHS jobs, Prison Service, education and childcare. Employers also face criminal sanctions for knowingly employing a barred individual across a wider range of work;
• The three former barred lists (POCA, POVA and List 99) are being replaced by two new ISA-barred lists;
• Employers, local authorities, professional regulators and other bodies have a duty to refer to the ISA, information about individuals working with children or vulnerable adults where they consider them to have caused harm or pose a risk of harm. Referral forms and referral guidance are available from the ISA website;
• VBS Guidance is now available covering the increased safeguards and the duties to refer introduced from the 12th October.
  Please note: ISA-registration for the Vetting and Barring Scheme does not start for new workers or those moving jobs until July 2010 and ISA-registration does not become mandatory for these workers until November 2010. All other staff will be phased into the scheme from 2011. Further information on how to apply for registration will be provided in due course.

Please note: ISA-registration for the Vetting and Barring Scheme does not start for new workers or those moving jobs until July 2010 and ISA-registration does not become mandatory for these workers until November 2010. All other staff will be phased into the scheme from 2011. Further information on how to apply for registration will be provided in due course.

• Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) (opens new window)

Pova First Checks

From 12 October 2009, the POVA First checks are replaced by the ISA Adult First checks. Applications for ISA Adult First checks are made in the same way as POVA First – i.e. via CRB checks. Please visit:

• Criminal Records Bureau (opens new window)

Health Select Committee Inquiry into Elder Abuse

June 2004.

• The Government's response to the Committee's recommendations and conclusions

No Secrets

In 2000, the Government published a national framework, "No Secrets", so that local councils with social services responsibilities, local NHS bodies, local police forces and other partners could develop local multi-agency codes of practice to help prevent and tackle abuse. Codes of practice were to be in place by October 2001.The multi-agency codes of practice, developed in response to "No Secrets", have been evaluated by the Centre for Policy on Ageing on behalf of the Department of Health.

• Written Ministerial Statement. Government response to the consultation on safeguarding adults; the review of the no secrets guidance
• Safeguarding adults: report on the consultation on the review of No Secrets (July 2009)
• Serious case reviews in adult safeguarding (opens new window)
• No secrets: guidance on developing and implementing multi-agency policies and procedures to protect vulnerable adults from abuse
• No secrets: the protection of vulnerable adults - Findings from an analysis of local codes of practice
• In Safe Hands: Implementing Adult Protection Procedures in Wales. (opens new window)