Background to the Independent Safeguarding Authority

The overall aim of the Independent Safeguarding Authority is to help avoid harm, or risk of harm, to children, young people and vulnerable adults. It aims to do this by preventing those who are deemed unsuitable from working or volunteering with children and vulnerable people.

This will be achieved by providing employers and those managing volunteers with a more effective and streamlined vetting service for potential employees, and by barring unsuitable individuals from working, or seeking to work, with children and vulnerable adults at the earliest opportunity.

The development of the Independent Safeguarding Authority - a Non Departmental Public Body (NDPB) which will take decisions independent of Government Ministers - forms a major element of a wide-ranging and ambitious programme of work established across Government to address systemic failures identified by the Bichard Inquiry into the Soham murders.

In March 2005 Sir Michael Bichard endorsed a proposal to implement Recommendation 19 of his report through the development of a central scheme whereby unsuitable people would be barred from working with children and vulnerable adults.

This recommendation was taken on board and enshrined in the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Bill which received Royal Assent on 8th November 2006.

Under the terms of this legislation - which covers England, Wales and Northern Ireland but not Scotland - it is estimated that up to 11 million individuals will fall under the scope of the new scheme, including up to 4 million volunteers as well as those in paid employment.

This scheme will check individuals and bar them from working or volunteering with vulnerable groups where appropriate. The Independent Safeguarding Authority will also ensure that individuals' records are continuously checked and updated and their status changed when relevant information comes to light.