The Live Wire

Independent Safeguarding Authority

Welcome to the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA). We hope that this website will provide a helpful insight into the work of the ISA and our role within the wider current Vetting and Barring Scheme.

The ISA is a specialist decision-making public body, sponsored by the Home Office, based in Darlington, County Durham. We make the often difficult and complex decision as to whether it is appropriate to bar a person (or remove a bar) from working or volunteering with children and/or vulnerable adults.

Our decision is based upon the harm they have caused or the risk of harm they present to vulnerable groups. If, after considering all the relevant information and evidence, we decide to bar someone the person will then be placed on the ISA's Children's Barred List or the ISA's Vulnerable Adults Barred List or both.

Naturally, we take our responsibilities very seriously. We are ever conscious of the impact the decision to bar or remove a bar could have on those referred to us and the lives of those with whom they come into contact.

At the heart of all our decisions is the need to safeguard members of vulnerable groups. We believe that the consequences of our thorough, consistent and fair decisions will help ensure that members of vulnerable groups (and their families and friends) benefit from the safeguards we, and our partners, help to deliver.

This site will help you to understand our decision-making processes and the context in which we operate. In particular, for MPs and their staff, we have developed a series of factsheets and FAQs to help and support you to answer queries from any of your constituents who may come into contact with the ISA, as clearly and effectively as possible.

We would also like to invite you to visit the ISA's main website – www.isa.homeoffice.gov.uk. Additionally if there is something you'd like to see on the site or a particular question you'd like us to answer please get in touch.

Adrian McAllister

ISA Chief Executive

Independent Safeguarding Authority

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