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 volunteers
to be clear about when they do and don't need to carry out
Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks on volunteers. The guidance
will help cut unnecessary red tape and responds to concerns voiced
by the voluntary sector that potential volunteers can be put off
if they are asked to undergo a CRB check without good reason.
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 £26.6 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
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk