The Bookseller.com

20th November 2008

ISA vetting for school visits

03.10.08

Children’s librarians, reading volunteers and publishing staff who regularly support book fairs and author events in schools will need to be registered with the new ISA (Independent Safeguarding Authority) by the time it comes into force in October 2009.

The regulations form part of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, which also requires that all authors who carry out one or more school visits each month are registered (The Bookseller, 26th September).

In addition, trustees of charities whose work is “mainly or entirely concerned with providing services for children” will need to register with the ISA.

A spokesman for the CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) clarified the way in which the new ISA regulations would operate. Adults who will need to register include those undertaking certain “regulated activities”, such as working in schools and hospitals or providing “teaching, training, treatment, transport or supervision” to children, as well as trustees of charities concerned with providing services for children.

However, retailers—including specialist children’s booksellers—are exempt. A spokesman said: “Mainstream retail staff will not have to become ISA-registered unless they specifically undertake ‘regulated activity’ over and above their normal retail duties.”

Providing a “regulated activity” must be a “significant or sole part” of the organisation’s activity before staff need to be registered, he added. “If what seems to be regulated activity is ‘merely incidental’ to the work of the business, staff do not have to be registered.”

One example given is that of a sweet shop open to everyone and not providing teaching, training or supervision of children. Although many of the customers may be children, the shop staff would not have to become ISA-registered.

“Consequently, unless booksellers or publishers are working in schools once a month or more, or are undertaking another kind of special activity (‘teaching, training or supervision of children’) on a regular basis, they will not have to become ISA-registered,” said the spokesman. Booksellers will, however, need to ensure that children are not left solely in the care of staff during events at stores.

Registering with the ISA involves a one-off fee of £64 per person.

children's Home ISA

Comments on this article