VETTING AND BARRING SCHEME-THE LATEST NEWS

In its recent document "The Coalition: Our programme for government", the Government set out its aim to "review the criminal records and vetting and barring regime and scale it back to common sense levels."

In order to deliver this promise and carry out the remodelling, the Vetting and Barring Scheme will be halted. The first phase of registration was due to commence on 26 July 2010.

Although the Scheme is halted whilst the Government undertakes its review, new safeguarding regulations introduced in October 2009 continue to apply. These include:

A person who is barred from working with children or vulnerable adults will be breaking the law if they work or volunteer, or try to work or volunteer with those groups.

An organisation which knowingly employs someone who is barred to work with those groups will also be breaking the law.

If your organisation works with children or vulnerable adults and you dismiss a member of staff or a volunteer because they have harmed a child or vulnerable adult, or you would have done so if they had not left, you must tell the Independent Safeguarding Authority.

In October 2009, the right to ask for an ehanced CRB disclosure was extended to all those who employ or use volunteers in types of activity called "Regulated Activity". This right remains, and you should continue to carry out appropriate
pre-recruitment checks, including CRB checks where appropriate or required by law.

For further information on the Vetting and Barring Scheme or Regulated Activity,  please contact the VBS contact centre on 0300 123 1111. Alternatively you can visit the ISA website, by clicking here.

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Important news from The Charity Commission June 2010 
The Charity Commission warns of bogus telephone calls.

The Charity Commission has been made aware of a scam involving people being telephoned by individuals claiming to represent the Charity Commission. In the phone calls these individuals claim to be from the "debt collection department" of the Commission and they demand payments for various services and advertisements.
Some of the bogus calls have demanded payments of thousands of pounds for various services and advertisements. The Commission has been contacted by a number of people who have received calls of this nature and has already reported this matter to the police.
It is important to be clear that:
• Any call from someone claiming to work with or on behalf of the Charity Commission, and claiming any payment in a threatening way, is clearly bogus;
• The Charity Commission does not charge for any of its services to charities; it does not get involved in debt collection either directly or through contracting third parties to do so, and nor does it collect debt on behalf of charities;
• You should immediately report these sorts of incidents to the police, and the Charity Commission would also like to be informed where its name is being used for suspected fraudulent purposes.

Andrew Hind, Chief Executive of the Charity Commission said; “I am outraged that individuals are misusing the good name of the Charity Commission in this way. I would strongly urge anyone to contact the police if they receive one of these calls and to please notify us as well.”
Our advice to charities is:
• When you speak to any member of staff from the Commission they will always be prepared to give their name, telephone number and email address;
• Commission email addresses always end with the domain name @charitycommission.gsi.gov.uk;
• Check the number of any suspect caller against the direct dial telephone codes for our offices; these are London 0207 674…, Liverpool 0151 703…, Taunton 01823 345… , Newport 01633 2255… The best way to contact us is by email or if you need to speak to someone urgently you can call our contact centre on 0845 300 0218.

Lines are open from 08:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday, except national holidays.

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Adult Social Care Forum Invitation

If you would like to attend the next Adult Social Care Forum, please click here for more information.
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What can we do for you?

VCS NK are here to help you find volunteering opportunities through our 'brokerage' service to suit your individual needs. Also offering services to support community and voluntary sector groups and organisations, we can provide advice, information and training on a range of topics. If you would like to register an interest in volunteering in the North Kesteven area, are a community group in North Kesteven in need of advice, or would like some information on volunteering, please contact us

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Volunteer Rights Inquiry