WHAT IS IT?

1. WHAT IS IT? • It is the law = criminal offences for non-compliance • Relates to individuals working with children and vulnerable adults (eg. adults with disabilities, prisoners) • A ‘mandatory addition’ to the existing vetting framework available to ‘employers’ (ie CRB checks) • Employ(er) = paid or voluntary, prefer ‘deploy(er)’ • Welcomed by RFU as it will mean more people who need vetting actually being vetted • All done via existing CRB process • Applicant will see little difference to old system • CRB checks through RFU must continue alongside • The legal and logistical framework is as follows……….

2. The Structure LAW • Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (SVG) Independent Safeguarding Authority 2008 (ISA) GOVERNING BODY (manages scheme, makes barring decisions) Vetting & Barring Scheme (VBS) SCHEME (manages vetting for those involved in Regulated Activity) ISA-registration (‘ISA scheme’) THE CHECK (membership without which person cannot be deployed)

3. WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR RUGBY UNION? • Phased introduction • October 2009 – some elements come into force • July 2010 – new dual ISA and CRB forms available • Nov 2010 – criminal offences go live • Act focuses on the ‘EMPLOYER’ = CLUB or RFU or CB • Anyone ‘working’ in a Regulated Activity with children and adults must be a member of the scheme – PAID OR VOLUNTARY • ISA-registration must be completed pre-deployment • ISA = One check for life with continuous updates........

4. SCHOOL U8’s Coach (volunteer & parent) Performance Coach 000012 (paid position) Umpire (volunteer) Teacher ISA (paid staff) Parent Helper (volunteer)

5. WHAT IS REGULATED ACTIVITY? Involves contact with children or vulnerable adults and is: • of a specifiednature (e.g. teaching, training, care, supervision, advice, treatment or transport) on a frequent* and/or intensive*. AND/OR • in a specified place (e.g. schools, care homes, Young Offenders’ Institutions, etc), frequently* or intensively*. • fostering and childcare; or • A defined position of responsibility (eg school governor, director of social services etc) *Frequent = Once a month or more. Intensive = 3 or more times in any 30 day period or overnight

6. WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR RUGBY UNION? • Clubs need to risk assess their ‘workforce’ regularly • Don’t vet people who don’t need to be vetted • Use the RugbyFirst membership lists for CRB and ISA – this is the only way RFU will show ‘clearance’ to be deployed • Do not deploy person until ISA-registration has happened then supervise them until CRB check is cleared • Why do CRBs continue? – breadth of criminal history • So who might need to be vetted……

7. WHO NEEDS TO BE ISA-REGISTERED • Photographers/video • Youth registrars • Club Safeguarding Officers • It is also advised that bar/catering/stewarding staff who come into frequent and or intensive contact in a supervisory capacity with young people should also be vetted. • Coaches • Parent helpers • Regular appointed drivers • Referees • Team managers • Medical/first aid • Tour staff • Tour host family lead parent • RFU ‘Pathfinders’.

8. THE IMPLEMENTATION • OCT 2009 • Criminal Offence to knowingly employed a barred person • RFU must report individuals barred from Rugby Union activity • March – July 2010 • RFU Training for RFU Staff, CB’s, & CB Safeguarding Managers & Club Safeguarding Officers • New RFU Safeguarding & RFU Vetting Policy • July 2010 • Application forms available and applications accepted through CRB • November 2010 • New starters and those changing role (with existing CRB) must hold ISA-registration pre-employment • November 2011 • Individuals renewing CRBs with RFU must have ISA-registration pre-deployment

9. THE PROCESS • Apply through RFU on a joint ISA/CRB form (Jul 10) • £64 per application for PAID employees ; FREE still for volunteers • System will look basically the same to the applicant • ISA will come back quicker – supervision until CRB cleared • ISA = 1 green tick on RugbyFirst • CRB = 1 green tick on RugbyFirst • 2 Green Ticks on RUGBYFIRST = full RFU clearance