Protection and Safeguarding

Overview

• Apart From Criminal Record Bureau Disclosure checks, What Other Steps Can We Take To Safeguard Our Clients?

Articles

• CRB Disclosures and the Independent Safeguarding Authority - VE Information Briefing (PDF) (coming soon)
• Safeguarding student volunteering in the Further Education sector: information for volunteer-involving organisations and brokerage organisations - VE Information Sheet (PDF)
• Criminal Records Bureau Checks: guidance for volunteering - Office of the Third Sector (Cabinet Office) (external link)

Questions about recruiting someone with a criminal record?

• Please visit the section on "prisoners, offenders and ex-offenders as volunteers"

Volunteering England members

Information Sheets

• Screening Volunteers
  
• Recruiting Ex-offenders (coming soon)

Examples, Samples and Templates

Generic sample statements on recruiting ex-offenders

• Sample Policy Statement on the Recruitment of Ex-offenders - Criminal Records Bureau (external link)
• Sample Statement to give to volunteer enquirers/applicants - Nacro and VE (PDF, refer to page 16 of booklet)

• The Refugee and Asylum Seeker project based at Voluntary Action Sheffield has produced some Pro-forma letters (external link) to help anyone who lacks sufficient identity documents apply for a Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure check in the usual way

Real life examples

• Example Child Protection Policy - Love for Life (PDF)
• Example Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy - Southampton Voluntary Services (PDF)
• Example extracts from Child Protection Policy and Guidelines - University of Warwick, Warwick Volunteers (PDF)

Please note that Volunteering England has not produced the 'real life example' documents listed directly above and is therefore unable to take responsibility for the content. Volunteering England and the organisations that contribute example documents to the Good Practice Bank can accept no responsibility for how they are used. They are presented as examples of good practice, but it is every volunteer-involving organisation's responsibility to ensure that their volunteers are safe, and that policies and procedures meet current legal requirements. For further information about the resources listed in the Good Practice Bank, please visit our 'top tips' page.

Links

Local help with safeguarding

• Local Safeguarding Children Boards
  Contact your local board to ask if they can offer localised support or training opportunities on safeguarding good practice when working with vulnerable clients or with vulnerable/younger volunteers
  Local Safeguarding Children Boards

Criminal Records Bureau and the Independent Safeguarding Authority

• Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) website
  This website contains practical information on the Disclosure application process
  www.crb.gov.uk
  

Some quick links to the CRB website:
- Database for finding an umbrella body
- Guidance on "portability" (re-using a check)
- How to check overseas criminal records
- Using the CRB's Code of Practice
- Drafting a policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders
- CRB's resource library of 'useful guidance notes'

• Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA)
  This website provides a broad range of news factsheets and frequently asked questions and answers about the national body which will be responsible for the Vetting and Barring Scheme which will be launched in October 2009.
  www.isa-gov.org.uk/

Some quick links to the ISA website:
- find out about the ISA's free information roadshows
- register for updates about the new scheme
- find out more about the ISA's role and legal responsibilities

Useful government documents published by the Department for Children, Schools and Familes

• 'Safer Working Practice for Adults who Work with Children and Young People'
  This guidance has been developed to help keep children safe by clarifying which behaviours constitute safe practice and which should be avoided. It will also assist adults working with children to do so safely and responsibly and to minimise the risk of misplaced or malicious allegations made against adults who work with children.
  Read the guidance on safer working practices on the Every Child Matters website
  
• 'Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education'
  This guidance includes useful guidance on recruiting and working with volunteers, a recruitment flowchart and interesting case studies on which volunteer roles might require a CRB check.
  Read the new safer recruitment guidance on the Every Child Matters website
• 'What to do if you're Worried a Child is Being Abused'
  This document provides best practice guidance for those who work with children in order to safeguard their welfare and contains advice on how to deal with and report such concerns.
  Read the full guide or summary on the Every Child Matters website

Other relevant websites

• NACRO
  A crime reduction charity which works to support ex-offenders and deprived communities. They can advise on issues related to taking on ex-offenders as volunteers.
  http://www.nacro.org.uk/
  
• NSPCC Inform site
  This website contains specialist resources on child protection
  www.nspcc.org.uk/inform
• Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU)
  A partnership between the NSPCC and national sports bodies which works to support sports organisations working with children.
  http://www.thecpsu.org.uk/
• National Council for Voluntary Youth Services
  NCVYS has developed a "Keeping it Safe" toolkit which offers guidance on writing and implementing policies and procedures in all aspects of safeguarding young people. It is accompanied by an accreditation system and training or consultancy support.
  http://www.ncvys.org.uk/
  NCVYS safeguarding resources
  
• Care Quality Commission (CQC)
  CQC regulates care providers under the Care Standards Act
  http://www.cqc.org.uk/
  

Publications

Free publications

• The Vetting and Barring Scheme Guidance - ISA, CRB and Access Northern Ireland (Oct 2009)
• Involving Ex-offenders in Volunteering - Volunteering England and Nacro
• Criminal Records Bureau Checks: guidance for volunteering - Office of the Third Sector (Cabinet Office) (external link)
• Safeguarding student volunteering in the Further Education sector - Volunteering England

Priced publications

• Selecting Volunteers: a mini guide - Volunteering England
• Safe Involvement of Volunteers with Vulnerable Clients: a mini guide - Volunteering England
• Volunteers and Mental Health Befriending - Volunteering England
• Volunteers and the Law - Volunteering England