Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups

The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (NI) Order 2007 established the Vetting and Barring Scheme with the aim of preventing unsuitable people from undertaking certain paid or volunteer work with vulnerable groups, including children (regulated activity). It does this by vetting all those who wish to do such work with vulnerable groups and barring those where the information shows they pose a risk of harm.Following a review of the Vetting and Barring Scheme in 2011, changes were made to the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (NI) Order 2007 by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012. Some of these changes came into operation on 10 September 2012.

These include:

• A new narrower definition of “regulated activity”, which a person who has been barred must not do. Regulated activity has been scaled back to focus on work which involves close and unsupervised work with vulnerable groups. 
• Repeal of “controlled activity”. The controlled activity category will no longer exist. This category covered people who might have less contact with vulnerable groups – for example, some people who deal with records. It will no longer be possible to check whether such people are barred, although some may remain eligible for enhanced disclosure checks, depending on their role.
• Repeal of registration and continuous monitoring. The requirement for anyone wishing to work with vulnerable groups to register with a central scheme and be continuously monitored for any new criminal record information has not been introduced and is now formally repealed.

University Policy

The University’s Policy is being updated to reflect the changes established in law by the Protection of Freedom’s Act and will be publsihed once  approved.  The current Policy is available on the Personnel Web Pages at the link below; this link will also take the reader to the updated guidance on regulated activity and supervision.  All queries regarding the legislative framework and the University’s Policy should be directed to Nichola McKay.

Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults Policy