Disclosures

The Central Registered Body in Scotland (CRBS) has been set up to administer requests for enhanced disclosures (also known as Police Checks) on volunteers in the voluntary sector wishing to volunteer with children, young people and adults at risk. In order to access disclosures, voluntary organisations need to enrol with the CRBS. Enrolment is free and the CRBS is the only source of free disclosures for volunteers in the voluntary sector in Scotland. Voluntary organisations will also be able to request disclosures for paid staff via the CRBS although there will be a charge of £20.00 per disclosure. Organisations can still register directly with Disclosure Scotland but they will be charged for each disclosure and for registration. (£150 to register and £20.00 for each disclosure)

Part V of the Police Act 1997 enables voluntary organisations to access disclosures for staff and volunteers, it does not make it compulsory. The disclosure scheme is intended to help organisations make safer recruitment decisions in relation to volunteers and staff by providing wider access to criminal record checks. It is important that these checks are seen as only one part of an organisation’s recruitment and selection procedures. Assistance on good practice can be provided by the CRBS or by contacting the Volunteer Centre.

If however, you are required to register with the Care Commission for inspection of the services you provide, there may be a legal requirement that you request disclosures on staff and volunteers. For further information visit their website on www.carecommission.com

Registered organisations must comply with a Code of Practice which is intended to ensure that Disclosure information is:

used properly and fairly
handled and stored appropriately and
kept for only as long as necessary and disposed of securely

Types of Disclosure

The Enhanced Disclosure is available for individuals who are caring for, training, supervising or being in sole charge of children and adults at risk. It will contain details of both spent and unspent convictions and any cautions (in England or Wales).

In addition to those details it will show information from local police records considered by the Chief Constable to be relevant to the position being sought and can be disclosed without harming the interests of the prevention or detection of crime.

CRBS Trusted Partner Scheme

The Volunteer Centre is authorised to carry out Visual Identification Verification for organisations who do not wish or are unable to go to Stirling to register with the Central Registered Body in Scotland.

The Volunteer Centre as a recognised CRBS Training Partner can also offer the CRBS Basic Awareness Session to organisations. Please contact the Centre for details of the next session.

PROTECTION OF CHILDREN (SCOTLAND) ACT 2003 (POCSA)

The above act allows Scottish Ministers to maintain a list of persons deemed unsuitable to work children. The Act covers both employed persons and volunteers.

The list will be known as the Disqualified from Working with Children List. It will help strengthen existing safeguards in place to protect children.

A booklet entitled Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003 Information Note: Disqualified from Working with Children List is available from the Scottish Executive website www.scotland.gov.uk or by telephone 0131 244 3735.

ALL ORGANISATIONS THAT WORK WITH CHILDREN, INCLUDING VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS, WILL COMMIT AN OFFENCE AND BE LIABLE FOR PROSECUTION IF THEY DO NOT COMPLY WITH THIS LEGISLATION. ACCESS TO THIS LIST WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE DISCLOSURE PROCESS, THEREBY MAKING REGISTRATION FOR POLICE CHECKS ON NEW STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS MANDATORY.

(From CRBS website)

For more information on the above please visit:

Central Registered Body in Scotland

Tel No: 01786 849777

Unit 55

Stirling Enterprise Park

STIRLING

FK7 7RP