New guidance on CRB checks for volunteers

London, 3 June/GNN/ -- CABINET OFFICE News Release (CAB/059/08) issued by The Government News Network on 3 June 2008 The Cabinet Office today published guidance to help organisations that use voluntee

People volunteering or working with children or vulnerable adults are sometimes
legally required to have a CRB check. Where contact with vulnerable people
will be limited or perhaps the person has recently been CRB checked for
a different role, a decision about clearance must be made. The guidance
clearly explains how the check works as part of a proper risk management
process. Other safeguards such as interviewing, training and taking references
from potential volunteers can also be employed.

Phil Hope, Minister for the Third Sector, said:

'The Government has a duty to protect vulnerable people and CRB checks play an
important part in this. However, it is a real waste if volunteers are being
put off doing their hugely valuable work because checks are being carried
out unnecessarily. Risk has to be managed properly and proportionately and I
hope that this guidance will help organisations by giving them a clear step
by step process to follow.

'The Government has made sure that CRB checks are free for volunteers,
saving volunteer involving organisations =A326.6 million in 2007/08. I want to
encourage more people to volunteer and will continue to tackle the barriers
that prevent them.'

The guidance responds to recommendations put to the Government by Baroness
Neuberger, the Government's Independent Volunteering Champion. Baroness
Neuberger said:

"I welcome this guidance and the Government's overall positive response to the
recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Volunteering. I believe that
the guidance will address some of the issues raised in our consultation and I
hope that it will promote a proportionate approach to CRB checks. The guidance
is particularly important in public service organisations and I hope that the
Government will push the use of the guidance in health and education strongly."

Notes to Editors

1. The Guidance on CRB checks and volunteers is available at:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/~/media/assets/www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/OTS_CRB%20pdf.ashx

2. Baroness Neuberger's review of volunteering
in health and social care is available at:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/news/news_stories/~/media/assets/www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/neuberger%20pdf.ashx

Cabinet Office Press Office 22 Whitehall LONDON SW1A 2WH
Tel: 020 7276 0317 - Fax: 020 7276 0618
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Out of hours telephone 07699 113300 and ask for pager number 721338

Source: Cabinet Office

2008-06-04 07:26:50 0376953 PRNEWSWIRE