Update from CVS and SCVO

The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exclusions and Exceptions) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2009 - 01 Jul 09  

Guidance on The Ammended Order

As reported in eCVS (4th May) and SCVO members' bulletins, some organisations working with vulnerable adults have been encountering problems due to the recent changes in interpretation of rules governing access to enhanced disclosure checks. This week, following a lengthy period of campaigning by the third sector, the Scottish Government’s Justice Committee released an amendment order on the Rehabilitation of Offenders 1974 act and how this applies to disclosure checks on volunteers and staff. 

These changes will ensure that organisations providing social care services involving staff having unsupervised one-to-one contact with adults at risk can now get an enhanced disclosure check. This information will be particularly relevant and important to organisations working in the social care field within your local area. It should also be noted that free basic and enhanced checks for volunteers have been extended until the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act comes into force some time in 2010.

Thank you to all organisations who contacted SCVO’s information line with any comments or concerns during the run up to this announcement. If you would like more information please contact Disclosure Scotland or CRBS. Alternatively, please call SCVO’s Information Line on 0800 169 0022