Disclosure Service

VCS organisations wanting to use the service for obtaining Disclosure checks on staff and volunteers need to register in advance and attend a half-day training course. Participants are provided with a useful guidance and reference pack to help them make better use of Disclosure information in making recruitment decisions; assistance is also available in complying with the CRB’s Code of Practice.

We provide a high quality, competitive service which includes:

• assistance with setting up the required policy statements
• training session (content includes the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, complying with the CRB’s Code of Practice, guidance on decision making, competing application forms and checking and recording identity documents)
• checking Disclosure application forms
• processing forms and sending them to the CRB
• tracking applications
• keeping the organisation up to date on the progress of the application
• email list to keep organisations up to date on new guidance and information
• telephone or email support.

As this service does not receive any funding a small processing fee is charged per application form (in addition to any fees charged by CRB) so by using our service you are also supporting our charity – thank you.

Contact Jeanette Lilley or Claire Petty on 01347 825710, or email disclosure.service@nyfvo.org.uk for further information and a registration pack.

The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB), an Executive Agency of the Home Office, provides wider access to criminal record information through its Disclosure Service. This service enables organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors to make safer recruitment decisions by identifying candidates who may be unsuitable for certain work, especially that involve children or vulnerable adults. The CRB was established under Part V of the Police Act 1997 and was launched in March 2002.

The CRB acts as a ‘one-stop-shop’ for organisations, checking police records and, in relevant cases, information held by the Department of Health (DH) and the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).  There are two levels of CRB check currently available; called Standard and Enhanced Disclosures. Organisations wishing to use this service have to register with the CRB or an umbrella body to access Disclosure checks.

More information about the CRB is available at www.crb.gov.uk

The Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) has been created to help prevent unsuitable people from working with children and vulnerable adults. The new Vetting and Barring Scheme launched on 12 October 2009. The new vetting service will have a single list of all those who are barred from working with children and another, related, list of those barred from working with vulnerable adults. These are called the Barred Lists and will replace the existing Protection of Children Act (PoCA) List, List 99 and the Protection of Vulnerable Adults (PoVA) List, as well as the current system of Disqualification Orders, which is operated by the criminal justice system. The ISA will work alongside the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) as applications will be processed via the CRB, and cover England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

More information about the ISA is available at www.isa-gov.org.uk You can also register for updates, and download useful factsheets which provide information on regulated and controlled activities, and the employer’s duty to refer information.

Will your organisation be affected? Download the leaflet to find out.

The Forum is offering a new email service and training to keep you informed as the scheme is implemented, find out more by contacting Jeanette or Claire on 01347 825710, or email disclosure.service@nyfvo.org.uk

The North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Board (NYSCB) is comprised of agencies and professionals responsible for promoting children's welfare and helping to protect children from abuse and neglect. Their website brings together information for children and young people, information for their families and information for anyone who works with them. It also provides an overview of the responsibilities, structure and work of North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Board.

NYSCB regularly arranges training courses for organisations working with children including free on Basic Awareness in Child Protection.

Information about the NYSCB, guidance on child protection policies, details of training courses and dates (including an e-learning Basic Awareness course - to use this option you need to sign up and create your own username and password before working through the on-line course) are all available at www.safeguardingchildren.co.uk

North Yorkshire Safeguarding Adults Board and NYFVO have been working together to provide support and resources to voluntary and community organisations in North Yorkshire who are working with, or supporting, vulnerable adults.

The North Yorkshire safeguarding adults board was set up in 2008*. The main aim of the board is to protect adults who may be at risk from abuse, by promoting co-operation and effective working practices between different agencies.

The board membership includes lead officers from social care services, police, health, housing, the Crown Prosecution Service, the Care Quality Commission and voluntary agencies. The board meet quarterly to ensure their policies are fit for purpose and of a high quality. They consider new national and local developments in safeguarding and look at ways in which they can improve practice. The board also considers lessons learnt and ensures that appropriate training is being delivered effectively to all groups.

You can find more information about the work the board does and safeguarding in general, from NYCC’s website:
www.northyorks.gov.uk/safeguarding and at http://www.northyorks.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=4536

The recently launched (Jan 2010) model policy and procedures for Third Sector organisations in North Yorkshire are available to download below. If you would like a *.doc version of the policy and procedure so you can adopt the files for your organisation please email Claire at the Forum to request a set, send your details to claire.petty@nyfvo.org.uk

*The North Yorkshire safeguarding adults board was previously a joint safeguarding adults board with the City of York from 2003 to 2008.

Safeguarding Adults e-list
A free email list for VCS organisations in North Yorkshire who are working with vulnerable adults. To sign up to this service please email your name, organisation and email address to Claire at the Forum at email claire.petty@nyfvo.org.uk . You can register more than one address within an organisation.

This list is administered by NYFVO in partnership with the North Yorkshire Safeguarding Adults Board. Please contact Claire Petty at NYFVO on 01347 825710 or email claire.petty@nyfvo.org.uk if you have any queries, or require any further information. Thank you.

Third Sector model policy statement

Third Sector model procedures

Appendix 1: definitions and types of abuse

Appendix 2: useful contacts and links

Appendix 3: the role of the Referrer (flowchart)

Appendix 4: Referral form