WALES COUNCIL FOR
VOLUNTARY ACTION
CRIMINAL RECORDS UNIT
SAFEGUARDING SERVICE
SAFEGUARDING
in the
THIRD SECTOR
www.wcva-cru.org.uk  0800 0197 391 
crusafeguarding@wcva.org.uk
Safeguarding – children, adults,
everyone
 www.wcva.org.uk  0800 2888 329  help@wcva.org.uk
Context
Increasing enquiries from CRU service users and third
sector organisations
• holistic approach- safer recruiting as part of safeguarding
• changes in Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS)
− RA change in eligibility – supervised volunteers
− Filtering guidance
− Single issue certificate
− Update service
• DBS statutory duty to refer
DBS changes
• Filtering guidance
– Understanding of criminal record information – interpretation
and risk assessment
• Single issue certificate
- How to manage viewing certificate, need for ID
• Update service
DBS Duty to refer
• A regulated activity provider, such as a person
who manages volunteers in a regulated activity
position has a legal duty to refer to the
Disclosure and Barring Service.
• ISA (as was) noticed fewer referrals from Wales
as expected
• campaign to raise profile
• WCVA CRU worked closely with DBS to deliver
awareness raising
DBS When to refer
When the two main conditions below have
been met:
• ONE : Permanent removal from regulated
activity
• TWO: Referring party thinks that the person has
either;
– engaged in relevant conduct or
– satisfied the harm test or
– received a caution for, or been convicted of, a
relevant offence
Harm test
• to satisfy the harm test there needs to be credible
evidence of a risk of harm to vulnerable groups including
children such as statements made by an individual
regarding conduct/behaviour, etc.
• for a case to be considered as a risk of harm, relevant
conduct would not have occurred but there must be
tangible evidence rather than a “feeling” that a person
represents a risk to children and / or adults.
 This is when the second condition has been met
Case by case basis
• Referrals from employers and other providers of
regulated activity, personnel suppliers, local authorities /
health and social care trusts / education and library
boards and professional regulatory bodies where they
have dismissed or moved an employee working in
regulated activity, following harm to a child or adult or
where there is a risk of harm.
• the majority of barring decisions rest upon the material
provided by
a) the employer (regulated activity provider)
b) the referred person in their representation
DBS Referral material
DBS would expect an organisation’s internal processes
to already have
• identification of individual
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
recruitment documentation
induction and training record
supervision / appraisal records
incidents / complaints involving individual
internal investigations / disciplinary processes
activity / care plans
external contacts; agencies and reports
exit processing
foundations
Embrace a culture of safeguarding and better
understanding of safeguarding and protection
• a need for a safeguarding policy and its implementation
• a need to understand what abuse looks like broadest
sense
• a need for risk assessment
• to know how to identify and report concerns
• continual improvement with confidence – more specific
topics
CRU website
Supporting third sector organisations and CRU service
users to meet their safeguarding responsibilities
• safeguarding information and guidance
• FAQ’s, “hot topics” and free downloads
• self assessment toolkit
• signposting to specialist organisations for specific
children’s or adult’s issues
www.wcva-cru.org.uk
CRU Safeguarding
enquiries
• safeguarding issues
– e.g. shared use of premises; faith groups
• safer recruiting; policies and procedures as well as
checks;
– policy templates
• volunteer concerns;
– e.g. roles and responsibilities
• disclosures, confidentiality and consent
• regulated activity and barring lists
• duty to refer and barring process
Safeguarding
training
• for third sector and CRU service users as extension of
their ongoing programme of advice and guidance
• bespoke and general
• working with CVCs – roll out across the sector for the
hardest to reach groups
• regardless of end user
• involved in joint planning of Safeguarding Induction
course with CCW, pilot in Autumn
Contact
Any questions, issues or concerns about safeguarding
in your organisation?
• CRU Safeguarding Officer - Suzanne Mollison
• CRU 08000 197 391
• crusafeguarding@wcva.org.uk
NEED HELP?.....from CRU
Safeguarding Service
 0800 0 197 391
Helpline 9 am – 5 pm
crusafeguarding@wcva.org.uk
www.wcva-cru.org.uk
WCVA CRU Morfa Hall Bath Street RHYL LL18 3EB