Background   

The Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS) was a recommendation of the inquiry into the murders of two school girls by school caretaker Ian Huntley in Soham, Cambridgeshire, in 2002.   

Introduction   

The Home Secretary announcd on Tuesday 15th June that the Vetting & Barring scheme (VBS) will be halted, pending a review by the government. This means that voluntary registration with the Independent Safeguarding Authority, due to start on 26th July 2010, will no longer be available. At this stage we don’t know how long the review will take, or the areas that will be covered by the review, but you can keep informed of developments by checking the Latest news section of the Access NI website (www.accessni.gov.uk)   

In the interim you will still be able to seek enhanced disclosures for those working in regulated or controlled activity as you have previously, or for any other case where there is eligibility to seek disclosures under the relevent legislation.   

New Application Forms    

As you may know, to coincide with the beginning of voluntary registration, new applications were to be introduced by AccessNI. These forms would enable applicants to apply for ISA registration with or without an enhanced disclosure certificate, or simply for an enhanced or standard disclosure.  

Despite the postponement of VBS, AccessNI proposes to move ahead with the introduction of the new application forms in time for July 26th While these can only be used (at this stage) to apply for standard or enhanced disclosures, we believe the introduction of new forms will provide advantages for both you as a customer and to AccessNI.  

These advantages include;  

  • The new forms allow AccessNI to process your application more efficiently;
  • They are only 5 pages in length, instead of 9 pages on the old form;
  • They provide an opportunity for applicants and counter signatories to become familiar with the new forms, prior to their use for ISA registration after the review;
  • There would be no delay in moving to VBs after the review – in other words disclosure application could be received right up to the day before VBS starts;
  • August is one of the least busy months for applications in AccessNI so any issues that do arise can be ironed out with least impact to customers.

Click here for the new AccessNI form for standard and enhanced disclosure application and ISA registration.

However the introduction of new forms does, as AccessNI had previously indicated at various roadshows and information sessions, mean there will be some short term disruption to the application process and you will need to plan accordingly. 

Timeline    

The New proposed timetable is; 

17 June 2010  

“New” application forms are availabe on the AccessNI website for downloading and completion. However applications should still continue to be made on the “old” form if it is their intention to have the disclosure processed before 26th July. Any applications made on the “new” form will be returned. 

9 July 2010   

This is the final date on which AccessNI application on the “old” style form. These application will be processed in the normal way. Any applications received after this date on “old” forms will be returned to signatories in Registered and Umbrella bodies. This rule extends to forms which may have been submitted to AccessNI prior to 9 July but which have been returned by AccessNI for amendment. If they cannot be returned to us for 9 July, a fresh application on the “new” form must be completed. 

 14 July 2010 

This is the first date that “new” style forms can be accepted. However no new forms will be processed until after 26th July. AccessNI service standards wull not be applied to these forms until 26th July (e.g. if a form is received on the 15th July, the 4 week service standard will only begin to apply from 26th July). While AccessNI will accept “new” application forms, Registered and Umbrella bodies are being advised not to send application forms to AccessNI until 26th July to prevent a back log building up. 

26 July 2010 

Processing of new style forms begins. 

This effectively means there will be a two week period in July where AccessNI is not processing new applications. Employers as well as registered and umbrella bodies are therefore asked to plan accordingly.  

You may wish to note that these new forms can be completed electonically and saved,  prior to printing. This provides countersignatories with the option of partially completing the forms and emailing them to applicants. Applicants can then complete the form electronically before printing, signing and returning to the Registered body for checking and counter signing.

  

 

Why is AccessNI doing this?
New application forms will allow AccessNI to process applications more efficiently. To help do this AccessNI is introducing an upgraded scanning and IT system to deal with new application forms. However, they do need a period of time to “clear” as many of the old style application forms from AccessNI systems before switching to this new system.

If there is an emergency and an application has to be processed quickly during this period, please speak with Sarah Steenson (Customer Services Manager – AccessNI) on 02890 259185. Please note it is only in the most exceptional cases that AccessNI will be able to assist.