Criminal Records Bureau Checks
Which of our Volunteers will we need to check? This is the advice from the ASA
The following positions within your club are classed as high risk, and should be CRB checked.. Secretary, Membership Officer, Welfare Officer, Teacher, Coach, Poolside Helper, Team Manager, Lifeguard, Chaperone and Photographer.
The following positions are classed as medium risk, but could still require a check depending on their level of contact and position of trust. Starter, Timekeeper, Judge, Referee and Scorer.
The following positions are classed as low risk, with little or no contact. Treasurer and Committee Members.
The new VRB checks (Vetting and Barring Scheme) from the ISA (Independent Safeguarding Authority) are due to be coming in from next summer. The ISA will work in partnership with the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) to gather relevant information on every person who wants to work or volunteer to work with children and vulnerable adults to prevent unsuitable people from working or volunteering in these roles.
The ISA will assess the data gathered by the CRB this will include criminal convictions, cautions, police intelligence and other appropriate sources and will decide on a case by case basis whether a person is suitable to work with children and vulnerable adults.
The VRB does not replace the current CRB checking process!!. An ISA check will show if a person is ISA registered which means the ISA have found no known reason why the applicant should not work with children or vulnerable adults. It also means that the ISA will review the status of that individual if any new information becomes available. A CRB enhanced disclosure provides a fuller picture of a person’s criminal history and allows organisations such as the ASA to make informed decisions as to whether that person is suitable for a particular role or position. The ASA will continue to require a CRB enhanced disclosure on all individuals who work or volunteer in a position of trust or with one to one or group contact with children and vulnerable adults within swimming.
Individuals cannot opt out of the VBS, as it will be a criminal offence to work or volunteer with children and vulnerable adults without being registered by the ISA. All clubs have a mandatory legal responsibility to ensure that everyone engaged in coaching or supervising children or vulnerable adults on their behalf is ISA registered. If they fail to do this the club, as the body that organises the activity, could face criminal prosecution. It will be illegal for anyone who has been barred by the ISA to work, volunteer or seek to work or volunteer with children or vulnerable adults – if they do they face up to five years imprisonment. It is also illegal for an employer to take on a worker or volunteer they know to be barred – if this happens the individual who made the recruitment offer could also face six months imprisonment.
The ISA application will be via the CRB on a combined ISA / CRB application form. For individuals undertaking paid employment the ISA Registration Fee is £64.00. This fee is a one off payment, which will cover that applicant for the duration of their career. Volunteers will not be charged for ISA Registration. For registered ASA members, and a volunteer for the club, the CRB check is free of charge. However, if the person receives payment from the club for the work they do, then a CRB check will cost £50.00.
The purple form that was originally called 'Register of Club Coaches and Helpers', has now been renamed the 'Self Declaration Form'. This form need only be completed once, whereas the CRB Disclosure Application Form should be completed every 3 years. A CRB Self Declaration Form will not be accepted if the applicant is not a registered ASA member of the club stated as stated on their CRB application.
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Level 2 Qualification