Monday, 21 April 2003

VOLUNTEER DEVELOPMENT SCOTLAND

www.vds.org.uk

Central Registered Body in Scotland (CRBS) 

(the National Clearing House for Disclosure for Volunteers and Voluntary Sector Staff)

The Central Registered Body in Scotland was established by the Scottish Executive to provide free Disclosures (police checks) for volunteers in the voluntary sector working with children, young people and vulnerable adults.

The CRBS is based within Volunteer Development Scotland at Stirling and has the following staff.

The CRBS has two functions:

Firstly, to administer requests for free standard / enhanced disclosures on volunteers in the voluntary sector wishing to volunteer with children, young people, and vulnerable adults. This includes checking that the voluntary organisation is bona fide, that the type of voluntary work to be undertaken requires a disclosure, and, when satisfied, passing the application onto Disclosure Scotland. Disclosure Scotland will run the disclosure and pass the result back to the CRBS, and directly to the individual concerned. The CRBS will, in turn, inform the voluntary organisation. The final decision on whether to involve the individual as a volunteer rests with the organisation and not the CRBS.

Secondly, to provide service users with information and assistance, on request, with making decisions about the suitability of applicants. The biggest issues surrounding disclosure will be around human rights, data protection, confidentiality, and ensuring that ex-offenders are treated fairly in accessing volunteering opportunities. The CRBS will also provide training on the use of Part V to obtain disclosures for adults working with children, young people and vulnerable adults.

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, but there will be a charge of £13.60 per disclosure. Organisations can still register with Disclosure Scotland, but they will be charged for each disclosure and for registration (Registration fee is £150 plus £10 per additional counter signatory.)

In order to access disclosures voluntary organisations need to enrol with CRBS. Further details of the enrolment process can be viewed in the PDF document
Enrolment Process

(PDF format, right click and select "Save Target As..")

Part of the registration process will require organisations to comply with the Scottish Executive Code of Practice copies are available from the CRBS.

Types of Disclosures
Organisations will be able to request either Standard or Enhanced Disclosures from CRBS.

'Standard Disclosures' are available for individuals who have 'regular contact' with children and vulnerable adults.

'Enhanced Disclosures' are available for individuals who are 'regularly caring for, training, supervising or being in sole charge of children and vulnerable adults'.

It should be noted that all disclosures are valid only on the day of printing and for a specific post.

Requesting Disclosures
The CRBS is a service which any voluntary organisation can choose to use, subject to the process requirements. The Police Act 1997 Part V, enables voluntary organisations to access disclosures on staff and volunteers who have regular contact with children and / or vulnerable adults, it does not make it compulsory.

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 on the Care Commission visit their website on www.carecommission.com

Retrospective Checks
The Scottish Executive does not encourage organisations to run retrospective checks on existing staff or volunteers working with children, young people, and vulnerable adults.

Disclosure Scotland
The source of data for disclosures in Scotland is Disclosure Scotland, which is part of the Scottish Criminal Records Office (SCRO). Information about the activities, and operations of Disclosure Scotland can be found on their website. www.disclosurescotland.co.uk

Cross-border Voluntary Organisations
National voluntary organisations working across the UK will need to register with the Criminal Records Bureau in England for their English and Welsh operations, and with the Central Registered Body in Scotland or Disclosure Scotland for their Scottish operation.

Value of Disclosures
It is important that Disclosures, are seen as only one aspect of recruitment and selection procedures. They should certainly not be regarded as a substitute for such procedures. CRBS recommends that voluntary organisations follow good practice in the recruitment and selection of volunteers, and can provide assistance in respect of this.

The VDS publication ‘Protecting Children’ is an excellent code of good practice on the selection of volunteers working with children. A number of the guidelines in the code of good practice are useful in the context of other vulnerable groups. Copies of ‘Protecting Children’ are available from the Information Unit at VDS. E- mail shirley.bwye@vds.org.uk

Disclosure Application Forms
All disclosures are applied for on the same disclosure application form. You should request copies from the CRBS if you have registered with the CRBS.

If you would like to make any comments about the Disclosure application form, simply email application form comments. Disclosure Scotland have indicated that the forms will be reviewed after 6 months and we will ensure that all comments are included in the review.

Organisations are invited to email CRBS with questions regarding disclosures and the CRBS. E-mail address info@crbs.org.uk

Alternatively you can contact us in the following ways:-

Central Registered Body in Scotland
Unit 55 Stirling Enterprise Park
Stirling FK7 7RP
Tel: 01786 849777
Fax: 01786 849767

To contact Angus Sports Council: