Josie Appleton
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
06 February 2012
Dear Ms Appleton,
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REF ISA/IG/FOI/403/2012
I write in connection with your request for information which was received by the Independent
Safeguarding Authority (ISA) on 11 January 2012. I note your request for information was as follows:
1. The number of referrals - for consideration for barring - made between 28 February 2011 and
31 December 2011.
2. I would also like any statistics you possess on the nature of referrals, made since the ISA 'went
live'. eg - I would like to know the nature of the referring organisation (eg, school, church,
individual); and the reasons for which referrals were dismissed (eg, the number of vexatious
or insubstantial referrals).
In answer to question 1, between 28 February 2011 and 31 December 2011 the ISA received a total
of 4,549 referrals for consideration under our discretionary powers. This figure does not include
relevant offences received through the Automatic barring route (when a person accepts a caution or
is convicted of a relevant offence, they are automatically barred from working with children and/or
vulnerable adults in regulated activity) or cases provided by the Secretary of State for determining
whether they should remain barred on the ISA Children’s or Adults’ List.
In reference to question 2, to help the ISA identify the information being sought, I am seeking
clarification of your request. Could you please provide specific examples of the “statistics” you are
seeking in order to assist the ISA in identifying the information you require.
In accordance with Section 16 of the Freedom of Information Act, which places a duty on public
authorities to provide advice and assistance, I am able to include information gathered when
referrals are received by the ISA, which you may find useful. While we are unable to provide the
level of detail you have requested, we do have information from 1/4/2010 which identifies from
which sectors we receive our referrals. They are as illustrated in the following table.
Referrals Received
20 Jan 09 –
01 Apr 09 –
Apr 10 –
01 Apr 11 –
Sector
31 Mar 09
31 Mar 10
31 Mar 11
31 Dec 11
Education
513
387
Care Homes / Domiciliary
2186
1757
Care
NHS
229
162
Health & Social Care
224
524
Local Authority
945
692
Faith
41
24
Sport / Recreation
94
74
Personnel Supplier
80
54
Voluntary
48
52
Prison / Probation
44
26
Service
Police
196
103
Professional Regulator
344
543
Other
278
214
TOTAL
3,448
9,056
5,222 *
4,612
*In 2010/2011 the ISA received and processed 5,361 referrals; Recording of sector- specific referrals commenced during April 2010.
I hope the information provided is of some use. If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your
request for information you can lodge a complaint with the Independent Safeguarding Authority to
have it reviewed. The Independent Safeguarding Authority must be notified of your intention to
complain within two months of the date of this response to your request.
Complaints should be made in writing and addressed to:
Performance and Information Governance Manager
Independent Safeguarding Authority
PO BOX 181
Darlington
DL1 9FA
In all possible circumstances the Independent Safeguarding Authority will aim to respond to your
complaint as soon as practicable and in any case within two months.
Yours sincerely,
Performance and Information Governance Team