Independent Safeguarding Authority

From 12 October 2009 the Protection of Vulnerable Adults (or POVA) scheme was replaced by the Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS). Referrals should now be made to the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA).

What is the Independent Safeguarding Authority?

The Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) has been created to help prevent unsuitable people from working with children and vulnerable adults.

It does this by working with the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and other delivery partners. Read more.

Increased safeguards have now been introduced under the Vetting and Barring Scheme, from October 12 2009: *

It is now a criminal offence for individuals barred by the ISA to work or apply to work with children or vulnerable adults in a wide range of posts - including most NHS jobs, Prison Service, education and childcare.

Employers also face criminal sanctions for knowingly employing a barred individual across a wider range of work; * The three former barred lists (POCA, POVA and List 99) are being replaced by two new ISA-barred lists.

Employers, local authorities, professional regulators and other bodies have a duty to refer to the ISA, information about individuals working with children or vulnerable adults where they consider them to have caused harm or pose a risk of harm.

Referral forms and referral guidance are available from the website. VBS Guidance is also available covering the increased safeguards.

Further Information

Factsheet on the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (.pdf format, 57KB) Explains the background to the Act and some of the details within it.

Factsheet on the Independent Safeguarding Authority (.pdf format, 60KB) Explains what the ISA is, its aims and objectives and its relation to the Criminal Records Bureau.

Factsheet on regulated and controlled activities (.pdf format, 63KB) Explains the terms ‘regulated’ and ‘controlled’ activities as they relate to the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 and to the work of the ISA.

Factsheet on the ISA’s Barred Lists (.pdf format, 65.7KB) Explains what the Barred Lists are and how they work, including how we make barring decisions and how to appeal.

Factsheet on an employer’s duty to refer information (.pdf format, 86KB) Explains the new legislation that requires certain employers to refer information to the ISA and how we will deal with this information.