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Scouting welcomes positive news on Vetting and Barring Scheme

13/12/2009

The Scout Association has been made aware that Ed Balls has recently written to Sir Roger Singleton in response to his report into the Government’s Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS).

We understand that in this letter Ed Balls accepts all of the recommendations made by Sir Roger and that a report confirming this position will be published on Monday 14 December.

Sir Roger Singleton, the Chief Adviser on the Safety of Children and Chair of the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA), was asked by Ed Balls in September to check that the line was drawn in the right place in relation to those who have to register with the scheme because of the frequent or intensive nature of their contact with children.

We understand that Sir Roger’s recommendations include:

• Where organisations such as schools, clubs or groups make the decisions as to which adults should work with their children then the requirement to register with the VBS should apply, subject to the frequent and intensive contact provisions.
• The frequent contact test should be met if the work with children takes place once a week or more (at present the test is if activity happens as often as once a month). The intensive contact test should be met if the work takes place on four days in one month or more or overnight (this change is designed to make the scheme easier to understand and put into practice, since at present the test is three times in every 30 days or overnight.)
• Individuals who go into different schools or similar settings to work with different groups of children should not be required to register unless their contact with the same children is frequent or intensive.
• The minimum age of registration for young people who engage in regulated activity as part of their continuing education will be reviewed. The Government should make immediate changes to the rules so that 16, 17 and 18-year-olds in education will not be required to register.
• Overseas visitors bringing their own groups of children to the UK e.g. to international camps or the Olympics, should have a three months exemption from the requirement to register.
• Exchange visits lasting less than 28 days, where overseas parents accept the responsibility for the selection of the host family, should be regarded as private arrangements and will not require registration.

We understand that in his letter to Sir Roger, Ed Balls is reassured by the progress that has been made over the past three months, and the wide range of organisations and individuals that Sir Roger consulted.

Scout Association Members should be aware that representatives of the Movement met with Sir Roger last month and that we welcomed the positive engagement we have had with him on this subject. We feel he listened sympathetically to our concerns about the operational implementation of the Vetting and Barring Scheme.

We are therefore very pleased to hear that Ed Balls will accept all of Sir Roger Singleton’s recommendations to ensure that the Vetting and Barring scheme draws the line in the right place when protecting young people.

The Scout Association now believes that the updated guidelines protect young people without being unnecessarily difficult to operate. We look forward to seeing the full report on 14 December.

Further information

BBC News: Schools and Scouts hail changes to vetting scheme
Telegraph: Vetting Rules Climbdown

 

 

Comments

By Sally malcolm (13/12/2009 06:57) Top job on this one. We got the goverment to listen again. Well done to all involved.

By Barry (15/12/2009 19:03) I hope this will mean the flexibility in the upper age range for Explorers will stay. Well done.

By Andrew Baynes (15/12/2009 21:37) In light of this can we now review the Explorers-must-leave-the-moment-they're-18 policy now, please? We had an Explorer turn 18 last year whilst we were away skiing - we would have to put him on a 'plane with this new rule!

By Mike Thompson (16/12/2009 13:12) Fingers crossed for an urgent review of the recent announcement of the change in upper age range flexibility for Explorer Scouts. Problems around sleeping arrangements, and the position of an 18yr Explorer who is also a Leader can be cleared up by official guidance. Flexibility is key in moving on!

By Jennifer Hockey (19/12/2009 08:34) Although it would seem that the Scout Association agree with the recommendations, am I, as GSL, to assume that we carry on as before until confirmation is received from HQ? At present I get as many parents as possible to have crb checks in order that they can go on parent rota or on sleepovers or days out with any Section. This way no-one is disappointed if they cannot go on sleepover with Beavers and we do not make mistakes because some have CRBs and some don't! Your comments, please. Will it also mean that if a parent works with say, the local 'after school club' - with a CRB check, we will not have to have a further check carried out? Regards Jennifer.

By Peter Turner (19/12/2009 09:23) All very well but we have just had a family transfer to us from another district where the parents recently had a Scout Association CRB check but it insists that we do another one. Why does moving increase the risk? If CRB checks are carried out centrally they should apply to the entire Assocation and the new district should only need to obtain verification that it is still in date and when it will need to be renewed.

By Russell Cook (19/12/2009 10:06) We really hope to see an urgent U-turn in the Scout Assoc leave before you are 18 policy,

By Stan Kemp (19/12/2009 13:00) Still some detail to sort out. Fellowship members rarely have "intensive" contact with young people. Likewise District Exec Officers and most occasional helpers. A clear instruction from the SA would be helpful.

By Jack Swift JP (19/12/2009 13:22) I have been in Scouting over 50 years as a SL and ADC. With this on top of the H&SE regulations, I am now seriously thinking of giving up..........

By Niel (19/12/2009 22:30) Perhaps all Explorers should be CRB'd when they reach 16, as they are doing in colleges where at that age they are going out doing civic works, school visits etc... Of course this will do nothing to prevent abuse by 'Scout' on 'Scout' at any age, indeed it will also continue the "s/he's ok, s/he's been CRB'd and vetted, so s/he must be ok" attitude that prevails.

By Marc Green (22/12/2009 21:15) What ever format the recommendations take as guidance from the Scout Association,please ensure it is written without ambiquity and in plain english so we do not alienate our membership,please

By Paul Austin (23/12/2009 16:29) Excellent and well done to everyone who stood up against this. Its just a pitty our legislators didn't have common sense in the first place as I cant imagine the amount of time from all volentary organisations that has been spent on this which could have been spent doing something productive. Well done again

By Richard Norman (24/12/2009 14:30) Sorry, but whilst this may have got the governemnt out of the latest debacle I believe that it will not make it EASIER for people to volunteer :-(