CHANGES TO THE DISCLOSURE SYSTEM – FROM 29 JUNE 2009

30 June 2009

The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exclusions and Exceptions) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2009 - Scottish Statutory Instrument!

For more information please click on the compliance tab.

Telephone Options

30 June 2009

Please note when phoning CRBS the telephone options have changed.

Option 1 - Recent changes to Adult at Risk eligibility              

Option 2 - Training                                                            

Option 3 - General Enquiries / Helpdesk     

Turnaround Time update

29 June 2009

CRBS are currently processing Disclosure Applications received on 24th June 2009.

We would, however, appreciate your continued co-operation to allow a reasonable timescale of 3 weeks before making enquiries on specific applications outstanding. This enables full processing of Disclosure Applications to Disclosure Scotland and time to record their receipt and subsequent action.  

Disclosure Applications

08 June 2009

Please be advised that CRBS cannot accept disclosure applications which only detail the words “volunteer” in section E2 of the disclosure application form; this includes applications submitted with a job descriptor/role profile.   Organisations must provide CRBS with clear details of the “position applied for” to allow the application to be forwarded to Disclosure Scotland.  CRBS will return disclosure applications submitted by organisations which only detail “volunteer” in section E2 as Police Forces cannot release relevant non-conviction information held regarding an applicant until they are able to determine if the information they hold is relevant to the position applied for.  Detailing “volunteer” does not enable Police Forces to make decision.

Standard and Enhanced Disclosure Applications (Adult and Adult at Risk positions)

08 June 2009

Please note that it is only those organisations which are registered, eligible to register or in the process of registering with the Care Commission that are entitled to access the Disqualified from Working with Adults List (section E8 on disclosure application form) when submitting standard and enhanced disclosure application forms for adult or adult at risk positions.

Organisations accessing standard or enhanced disclosures for adult or adult at risk positions under the criteria of “health service” are not entitled to access the Disqualified from Working with Adults List; section E8 of the Disclosure application form should therefore be crossed as NO.

New regulations affecting disclosure checks

04 June 2009

Pending parliamentary procedure, new regulations affecting disclosure checks are expected to come into force on 29 June.

Following audit compliance work by Disclosure Scotland, it came to light that some positions fall out with the criteria to access enhanced disclosure checks as set out in current legislation.  The problem stemmed from having no defined meaning of a “social care service” for persons working with adults at risk.  Some examples of the positions affected include providing advocacy support services, befriending, social inclusion-type support, homelessness, and where services are provided due to age or condition i.e. due to disability, health or age-related circumstances.

The intention remains that eligibility for the higher levels of disclosure check should be proportionate in relation to the work to be undertaken.  Scottish Ministers have therefore expedited a legislative solution that would act as a bridge between the current legislation and the introduction of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007.

The effect of these changes will be to ensure that organisations providing “social care services” which involve staff (paid or voluntary) in positions having unsupervised one-to-one contact with an “adult at risk” as part of their normal duties can legitimately seek an enhanced disclosure.  Where this level of contact is not a feature of the work done, organisations may be eligible to seek standard disclosure checks where the criteria are met.

The draft Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exclusions and Exceptions) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2009 can be accessed at: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/dssi26-05

Proposed Changes for AAR Positions

02 June 2009

“The Scottish Ministers have introduced an Order which contains proposals to amend the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exclusions and Exceptions) (Scotland) Order 2003 to add employment or work concerned with the provision of  “social care services” on a one-to-one basis for adults at risk to the 2003 Order.  If the Amendment Order is approved by the Parliament, and when the ROA Order is read with the Police Act Regulations, it will mean that certain individuals undertaking paid or unpaid work which is classed as a “social care service” will be eligible for enhanced disclosures.”

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/ssi2009/draft/sdsi_9780111005323_en_1

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/ssi2009/draft/en/sdsien_9780111005323_en.pdf

Royal Mail Price Increase

15 April 2009

Please note that Royal Mail have increased all prices for postage.
Information on Postal Charges can be found at
www.royalmail.com, your local Post Office or
Royal Mail Customer Services 08457 740 740.
Please ensure that sufficient postage fee is attached to your application, as an incorrect postage fee could result in your application form not reaching us.

Important Information

15 April 2009

 Please click here for information on the eligibility for disclosure checks on Adults at Risk.

Change in cost of Disclosure Applications

15 April 2009

Important Information - Potential Price Increase

Subject to the approval of the Scottish Parliament, the fee for all levels of Disclosure Applications is expected to rise, by £3, to £23, on the 1st of August 2009.  Please click here for more information.

CRBS - Services Extended to All Organisations Requiring an Umbrella Body to Access Disclosures

23 March 2009

CRBS has extended their services to include the provision of a service to commercial organisations requiring an umbrella body to access disclosures.  Voluntary organisations will continue to access the Disclosure scheme via the CRBS for free and commercial organisations can use the facilities provided by the CRBS for an administration fee of £25 per application.  It should be noted, this administration fee is in addition to the £20 fee payable to Disclosure Scotland for each application submitted by a commercial organisation.

The range of services provided by the CRBS includes: 

• Registration of the organisation to access the Disclosure Scheme in Scotland;
• A helpline facility which is available during office opening hours as noted on the “Contact Us” section of the website;
• Support and training with policies and procedures relating to the protection of vulnerable persons / groups.
   

The costs for these services are as follows:

• Voluntary sector organisations continue to access the CRBS’ facilities for free;
• All organisations can register free with CRBS (this includes access to the Fast Track registration process);
• An administration fee of £25 per commercial application form (in addition to the £20 fee payable to Disclosure Scotland for each application form);
• Additional training costs are available on request.