Independent safeguarding authority

From 12 October 2009, new measures were introduced to help prevent unsuitable people from undertaking paid or voluntary work with children or vulnerable adults.

The Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) is responsible for the maintenance and management of the lists of those barred from working with the vulnerable.   The ISA makes decisions over who should be barred from working with vulnerable people. These decisions are legally binding so a barred person must not undertake certain roles under any circumstances. Failure to comply could result in both the employer and the employee, or volunteer, being prosecuted and even going to prison.

In 2012, the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and ISA were combined to form the Disclosure and Barring Service for England and Wales.

When the DBS is processing an Enhanced Disclosure, it consults those lists and reports the results.