AGENDA ITEM NO.
1.
REPORT TO:
Finance and Performance Scrutiny
Committee
REPORT OF:
Pam Webb (Interim Chief Human
Resources Officer)
REPORT NO:
CHRO/26/09S
DATE:
17th December 2009
CONTACT OFFICER:
Pam Webb (2130)
SUBJECT:
1) To consult on the Revenue Budget
2010/11 in respect of Service
Pressures due to CRB
and ISA costs.
2) Council’s current policy in respect
of Payment of professional
practice/registration Fees and
associated budgetary
implications.
PURPOSE OF THE REPORT
The purpose of the report is to:
1.1
Give further details concerning the service pressures identified
in the Revenue Budget 2010/11 presented to the Executive
Board on the 17th November 2009 with regard to CRB
Certificates, Vetting and Barring Scheme registration and the
administration of these processes and:-
1.2
Outline the Council’s current policy with respect to the payment
of professional practice/registration fees for staff throughout the
authority and the associated budgetary implications. As
requested by the Executive Board on the 17th November 2009
(minute 166).
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2.
3.
4.
SUMMARY
2.1
The Safe Recruitment Policy, adopted in November 2007, the
increase in costs of CRB certificates and the implementation of
the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act, 2006 (known as
ISA/Vetting and Barring Scheme) has placed, and will place
further additional resource (administration and cost of
certificates/registration) on the Authority.
2.2
The Council pays for professional/practice registration fees for
other staff groups and these are detailed in the report.
RECOMMENDATIONS
3.1
That the additional service pressure in respect of CRB/ISA costs
identified in report CFPO/78/09 which outlined the draft revenue
budget, should be approved and should continue to be
consulted on in line with the decision of the Executive Board on
17/11/09.
3.2
The Committee notes the current policy and practice for the
payment of professional practice/registration fees for staff
throughout the Authority and the associated budgetary
pressures.
INFORMATION
4.1
These additional pressures are put forward for consultation as
part of the Council’s 2010/2011 Revenue Budget.
In the report on 17/11/2009, they are identified as:-
4.2
i)
Additional costs in Year 1 relating to implementation for
ISA registration = £15k.
ii)
Safe Recruitment Policy – additional cost of certificates =
£30k.
iii)
Safe Recruitment Policy – additional resource cost =
£20k.
Safe Recruitment Policy
In November 2007, the Council adopted a comprehensive Safe
Recruitment Policy. In particular, the policy introduced
consistency in the requirement for the renewal of Criminal
Records Certificates. Prior to this policy, you had the
inconsistency whereby some staff required a CRB by statute,
some required renewals every 3 years by statute and others did
not require either. There are approximately 5500 existing staff
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plus volunteers who require CRBs. In addition there are all new
starters to these positions.
4.3
The consequence was a substantial increase (approximately
800 per annum) in the number of certificates (each costing
£36.00) and the administration of this.
4.4
These additional costs although put forward as Human
Resources pressure, are in fact pressures on service
Departments. If the additional resources are not agreed, then
these costs will continue to be charged to the Departments.
4.5
The cost of an enhanced certificate was initially £12.00 in March
2002 and is now £36.00. The increase in cost and increase in
number of certificates means that the budget allocated for CRB
certificates (£49k) is consistently overspent (the spend in 2008/9
was £105k but this included dealing with a backlog in respect of
schools). The new policy will mean on average approximately
2000 CRB checks per year at £36 per check i.e. a total of £72k
minimum. The service pressure of £30k will address this
shortfall between budget and expenditure. Currently any
overspend is met directly by the service department.
4.6
The report in November 2007 identified an increase in
administrative cost not only in respect of the Safe Recruitment
Policy but also in anticipation of the Safeguarding Vulnerable
Groups Acts in 2006 which was initially scheduled to be
introduced in early 2009. This was to fund 2 full time equivalent
posts (L04 at £20k each) but only identified for half year in
2008/2009 and increasing by £20,000 in 2009/2010. This
second year increase was not included in service pressures put
forward in 2009/2010, hence the need to rectify this in
2010/2011.
4.7
Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
This Act has seen the introduction of the Independent
Safeguarding Authority (ISA) and the Vetting and Barring
Scheme (VBS). This Act is a major change in “employment”
legislation. The changes the Act has introduced include:i)
The setting up of ISA who are responsible for determining
if an individual should be barred from work (paid or
unpaid) with vulnerable groups. (This was previously a
decision by a Secretary of State).
ii)
Mandatory for employers to refer individuals guilty of
misconduct towards vulnerable groups.
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iii)
Makes it an offence for “barred” individuals to apply for
work with vulnerable groups.
iv)
Makes it an offence, if employers do not carry out certain
checks.
v)
The major and most publicised change is that all
individuals (it is estimated to be about 11 million people)
will have to register with the Vetting and Barring Scheme
at the cost of £64.00.
4.8
In the Council, this will mean 5,500 staff (all those who work with
children or vulnerable adults and all support staff who have
access to Social Services or Education records) registering, all
Governors, all Elected Members and all volunteers who assist in
working with children and/or vulnerable adults. This will mean a
substantial number to register and subsequent administrative
workload for the next 5 years. The 31 July 2015 is the date by
which everyone working in this field must be registered. After
this date, registration will only be new entrants to this type of
work (paid or unpaid).
4.9
The administration of these “registrations” will be substantiated
over the next five years. The cost of the registration is officially
with the individual. If the Council pays for this the cost will be
over £150k with £15k in the first year. CMT are currently
reviewing whether to recommend to pay such fees and a further
report will be presented in 2010 once final regulations are made
and it is clear how other Local Authorities are responding to this.
4.10
The safety of children, young people and vulnerable adults from
abuse by their carer/worker is a fundamental responsibility of the
Council. The Safe Recruitment Policy and the introduction of
the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act places local and
national standards to achieve this. It is essential that Service
Departments are given the financial and administrative support
to meet these objectives.
4.11
Registration Fees for Professional Groups
In the last five years, a number of regulatory bodies have been
established and/or it has becomes mandatory for workers to
register with them. These include:a)
General Teaching Council for Wales.
b)
Care Council for Wales (Registration of Social Workers, `
Children’s Homes, Care Homes and Home Care Staff).
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4.12
5.
d)
Solicitors Regulation Authority (SR) (Solicitors).
e)
The most recent is the Health Professions Council and
the Educational Psychologists.
Appendix 1 illustrates the cost of fees and the number of staff
involved. The cost of these fees are met from the service
budgets and it is the practice of most if not all local authorities to
pay the fees for these groups. In respects of Teachers the
revenue support grant was increased by WAG to meet the
registration fee when it was initially £33 per person. The
General Teaching Council for Wales and the Care Council for
Wales have a more robust policy which is backed by statute in
respect of registration than the equivalent bodies do in England
e.g. workers in Children’s Homes in Wales have had to register
since 2007, whereas similar workers in England are not even
able to register let alone required to do so.
Currently, all staff, whether full-time/part-time, whatever pay
scale, have assistance with fees when registration is required by
law.
RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS
6.1
7.
Health Professions Council (Registration of Occupational
Therapists).
EQUALITIES IMPACT ASSESSMENT
5.1
6.
c)
Detailed in the report.
LEAD MEMBER COMMENT
BACKGROUND PAPERS
Executive Board Report CHRO/19/07, Safe Recruitment
Policy.
LOCATION
WEBSITE INFO.
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APPENDIX 1
Regulatory Body
Staff Groups
Cost of Fee
Per Annum
Amount
Paid by
WCBC
Total Number
of Staff
Total Cost
General Teaching
Council for Wales
Teacher
£45.00
£33.00
*RSG
increased to
meet this
1,250
Nil
Care Council for Wales
Social Workers
£30.00
£30.00
150
£4500
Care Council for Wales
Registered Managers
(of Care and Children’s
Homes and Domiciliary
Care)
£30.00
£30.00
20
£600
Care Council for Wales
Care Workers
£10.00
£10.00
500
£5000
Health Professions
Council
Occupational Therapists
£76.00
£76.00
10
£760
6
Regulatory Body
Staff Groups
Cost of Fee
Per Annum
Amount
Paid by
WCBC
Total Number
of Staff
Total Cost
Health Professions
Council
Educational Psychology
£76.00
£76.00
8
£608
Solicitors Regulation
Authority
Solicitors
£1310
£1310
13
£17030
1951
£28498
TOTALS
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