This section provides background information which you may find useful in deciding whether to apply for a particular vacancy. Please follow the links to the right.

Safer Recruitment

Swindon Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

All applicants for posts working with children, young people and vulnerable adults will be interviewed in line with our safer recruitment guidance.

Successful candidates will be asked to apply for an Enhanced Disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau.

Criminal Records Bureau

Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) is an Executive Agency of the Home Office and established under Part V of the Police Act 1997 and was launched in March 2002. The CRB provides wider access to criminal record information through its checking service.

It helps employers in the public, private and voluntary sectors to make safer recruitment decisions by identifying candidates who may be unsuitable for certain work, especially involving children or vulnerable adults. The CRB provides controlled access to criminal records and related information through its Disclosure Service.

Disclosure Level

There are two levels of CRB disclosure available: standard or enhanced. Swindon Borough Council, in seeking to fulfil its duty of care, undertakes all disclosure checks at enhanced level, as this is the only level that discloses all relevant information.

Vetting and Barring Scheme Put on Hold

The Home Office has announced that the Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS) for those working with children and vulnerable adults will be put on hold so that it can be remodelled. This means that the Independent Safeguarding Authority registration stage of the scheme due to start on 26 July 2010 has been stopped.

While awaiting details of the remodelling of the scheme the Council will proceed on the basis that:

• The existing requirements concerning CRB checks remain in place and those checks must still be carried out where necessary, and
• The parts of the VBS put in place in October 2009 continue