Registration scheme for working with children
New arrangements should be introduced requiring those who wish to work with children, or vulnerable adults, to be registered. This register – perhaps supported by a card or licence – would confirm that there is no known reason why an individual should not work with these client groups. The new register would be administered by a central body, which would take the decision, subject to published criteria, to approve or refuse registration on the basis of all the information made available to them by the police and other agencies. The responsibility for judging the relevance of police intelligence in deciding a person's suitability would lie with the central body. The police, as now, would be able to identify intelligence which on no account should be disclosed to the applicant. Employers should still decide, based on good selection procedures, whether or not the job required the postholder to be registered and should retain the ultimate decision as to whether or not to employ. The central body would have the discretion to ignore any conviction information judged not to be relevant to the position in question. Individuals should have a right to appeal against any refusal to place them on the register and that right should be exercised before any information is made available to a third party. The register should be continuously updated and available to prospective employers for checking online or by telephone. The register should be introduced in a phased way, over a period of years, to avoid the problems associated with the introduction of the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). The DfES, in consultation with other government departments, should decide whether the registration scheme should be evidenced by a licence or card.
How was this assessed?
Response
Accepted
Response
AcceptedThe Home Secretary made a statement to Parliament on 22 June 2004, the day the Bichard Inquiry Report was published, accepting all 31 recommendations in full. The government stated it was "in principle, accepting Sir Michael's main recommendations and will act on them immediately." Implementation led to the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 and the creation of the Independent Safeguarding Authority (now the Disclosure and Barring Service). By February 2007, 21 of the 31 recommendations had been fully or substantially completed. See Hansard, 22 June 2004.
Progress Timeline
Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 received Royal Assent. Explicitly scaled back the universal registration scheme with a card or licence that the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 had established, deeming it disproportionate. DBS retained enhanced checks but not the card/licence model Bichard envisioned.
Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 received Royal Assent. Established the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) to administer a new vetting and barring scheme, including a registration system for those working with children and vulnerable adults.