DCSF guidance on safeguarding will be going out for consultation in the next few weeks, and the National Apprenticeship Service are encouraging employers to look at the clarity and ease of understanding of this guidance and feed back through the consultation.
The guidance is called: Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education: Young people involved in both education and the workplace and can be found on the DCSF consultation website. The consultation closes on Tuesday 15 June.
The new Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS) registration commences on 26 July 2010. Employers do not have to have all their staff registered under the scheme through the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) in order to employ a 16-18 year old or vulnerable adult as an apprentice.
Employees do not have to register as a matter of course with the VBS if they are working with apprentices aged 16-17 in the workplace, but the employer is entitled to ask employees to register. The employer will be able to decide who should register by carrying out a risk assessment.
The employer of an apprentice will decide who, if anyone, to check on the basis of suitability and risk assessments. This will also be stipulated in the funding contract and will encourage a sensible and proportionate approach. The Learning Skills and Improvement Service (LSIS) are developing what will be required under the risk assessment and will provide risk assessment workshops for employers later in the year.
For further information go to:
- Direct Gov - www.direct.gov.uk/en/campaigns/Vetting/DG_183221
- Independent Safeguarding Authority - www.isa-gov.org.uk
- CRB - www.crb.homeoffice.gov.uk
- DCSF Consultations - www.dcsf.gov.uk/consultations