Guidance on safer recruitment
The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 will introduce a new vetting and barring scheme for all those working with children and young people from 2008. Ahead of the new scheme, the Secretary of State for Education and Skills announced in June 2006 that regulations would be tightened and new guidance introduced to clarify responsibilities for safer recruitment.
New guidance entitled Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education was issued on 14 November 2006. It can be ordered or downloaded from Online Publications for Schools. A letter to schools about the guidance from Beverley Hughes, the Minister for Children, Young People and Families and Jim Knight, Minister for Schools and 14 to 19 Learners can be downloaded here.
The guidance is a consolidated version of earlier guidance material, and covers:
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duties for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in education
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recruitment and selection processes
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recruitment and vetting checks
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dealing with allegations of abuse against teachers and other staff.
The guidance consolidates and replaces the following:
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Child Protection: Preventing Unsuitable People from Working with Children and Young Persons in the Education Service
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Criminal Records Bureau: Managing the Demand for Disclosures
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Safeguarding Children in Education
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Safeguarding Children: Safer Recruitment and Selection in Education Settings
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Dealing with allegations of abuse against teachers and other staff (November 2005)
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Guidance (09/04) Checks on Supply Teachers
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Guidance contained in Circular 7/96, Use of Supply Teachers and in the associated Guidance Notes for Teacher Employment Businesses and Agencies
The guidance emphasises the importance of schools and other education establishments incorporating measures to help deter, reject, or identify people who might abuse children, or are otherwise unsuited to work with them in their recruitment and selection procedures and other human-resources management processes. It aims to assist all schools, including non-maintained and independent schools, further-education colleges and local authorities with education functions to review and, where appropriate, modify their practice and procedure in ways that will strengthen safeguards for children by helping to deter and prevent abuse.
Pre-appointment checks
The DCSF advises that the following checks should be made on all people working in an education service:
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references
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identity
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UK residence or permission to work in UK
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CRB enhanced disclosure (unless the person has continuity of employment)
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List 99 check
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pverseas criminal record check (where necessary)
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medical fitness
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qualifications
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professional status (for qualified teachers, confirmation of registration with the General Teaching Council for England)
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complete induction and/or probationary period, as required for the position
Criminal Records Bureau (CRB)
The CRB provides criminal record Disclosures for people working with children and young people, reducing the risk that unsuitable people can gain employment with children. Employers can ask successful candidates to apply to the Bureau for a Disclosure, which will contain information about their criminal record. The Bureau issues three types of Disclosure, each representing a different level of check. The level of check is determined by the duties of the particular position or job involved. The CRB will advise applicants and employers what type of Disclosure is appropriate in individual cases. However, in general, work with children and young people, or with vulnerable adults, qualifies for the most detailed checks.
For more information about the CRB, visit the CRB website.
List 99
List 99 is a confidential document, maintained by the DCSF, which contains the details of people whose employment in the education sector has been barred or restricted by the Secretary of State. Teachers cannot be registered with the General Teaching Council if they are barred from teaching because they are on list 99.
Training
The criteria governing all courses of initial teacher training require newly qualified teachers to develop a working knowledge of their contractual, legal, administrative and pastoral responsibilities as teachers. Courses on awareness and recognition of child abuse and the need for the education service to work together with the statutory agencies are matters for individual institutions. Schools and local authorities may wish to include coverage of child protection issues in their induction training for newly qualified teachers.
Designated teachers need appropriate, practical in-service training to enable them to carry out their duties effectively.
Last updated: 16 July 2007
