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Recruitment body responds to consultation on new criminal vetting scheme

The REC, which represents over 8000 recruitment agencies, has submitted its response to the Government’s consultation on the Independent Safeguarding Authority scheme. 

In future, all those who wish to work in environments with children or vulnerable adults will have to register with the ISA, which will check their suitability. 

Ultimately, the Government estimates, around 11 million people will be registered on the scheme.  The ISA requirement will be in addition to current Criminal Record Bureau checks. 

Commenting on the REC response Anne Fairweather, Head of Public Policy said: “The new scheme sounds encouraging.  We’re pleased to see that the ISA will be a ‘live’ scheme that will notify employers as soon as an employee’s status has changed. 

"However it is vital that such a wide reaching scheme is phased in properly.  Recruiters are only too well aware of the problems that beset the introduction of the CRB."

The REC also used the consultation as an opportunity to raise concerns with current CRB vetting. 

She continued: “CRB vetting simply does not respond to the temporary work market.  Every day, thousand of supply teachers, agency nurses and locum doctors are providing front line care at short notice.  At the moment these workers often hold separate CRB checks with every agency they work through, which is both costly and inefficient. 

"The ISA offers a real opportunity to create a vetting scheme which responds to the temporary market whilst ensuring the safety of vulnerable groups.  Currently the delays in obtaining checks, and the costs of repeat checking, can result in people simply not registering to work in these areas.  This can create real problems in recruitment.” 

The REC response suggests several ways these issues could be tackled including allowing CRB checks to be portable between employers, or allowing individuals to work once they are cleared by the ISA, but waiting to obtain their CRB disclosure. 

In responding to the consultation REC consulted its specialist Education, Medical, Childcare and Nursing & Social Care divisions.