Independent Safeguarding Authority

The ISA is set to merge with the Criminal Records Bureau in late 2012 and will be known as the Disclosures and Barring Service (DBS).  This merger should provide a number of benefits for Employers and improve safeguarding arrangements.

Just a reminder though…. Make sure you make the required referrals… it is a criminal offence which can result in a custodial service not to do so.

The ISA are keen to improve working relationships with the Social Care PV sector and provided you can get enough people together, Case Workers can come and provide workshops for you free of charge. The ISA recently ran two such workshops in Milton Keynes and the feedback from agencies was very positive and helped agencies to understand how the ISA works.

Some key points for you to consider:

• The ISA do not have any powers to investigate – is it therefore critical Employers provide full details- the ISA helpline can advise as to what kind of documents might be useful

• The ISA can not given you any feedback - whilst this may be frustrating for Employers who are keen to improve their procedures, the ISA can only act within the law – what you can be assured about is that every single piece of referral information is considered very carefully.

• the information you provide might not be sufficient in itself to cause concern but the ISA may be able to build a picture of concerns nationwide. 

Remember – your duty to refer also includes for situations where someone resigns before you can take action as well as dismissals. Ideally you should make sure your HR policies make reference to the duty to refer – in particular disciplinary procedures should state who is responsible in your organisation for making the referral and that it is automatically considered in every dismissal situation.

Worried you should have referred someone?  You can still make a retrospective referral – contact the helpline for advice.

ISA Helpline: 01325 953795.

If any Local Authorities want to organise a free workshop, the contact is Michell.Monty@isa.gsi.gov.uk