Who counts as ‘vulnerable people'?
The definition of vulnerable people includes:
Children – anyone under the age of 18
Vulnerable adults – anyone who is 18 or over and:
- receiving any form of health care
- receiving any service specifically targeted for people: with any form of disability, prescribed physical or mental problem, or age related needs; in residential accommodation for expectant or nursing mothers
- in residential accommodation for the purpose of receiving nursing care
- in sheltered housing
- receiving domiciliary care by reason of age, health or disability
- receiving a welfare service which provides support, assistance, advice or counselling to individuals with particular needs
- detained in lawful custody, in prison, remand centre, attendance centre, removal centre or short-term holding facility
- under supervision by virtue of an order of court
- receiving payments under section 57 of the Health and Social Care Act
- requiring assistance in the conduct of their own affairs, by power of attorney, court order, advocacy or representation.
Definitions – regulated activities
Employers must check whether you have been barred by the ISA before they allow you take part in the following activities. These are called Regulated activities under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006.
Regulated activity is any paid or voluntary activity which involves contact with children or vulnerable adults and is:
- of a specified nature
- or in a specified place
- and takes place “frequently, intensively and/or overnight”.
Specified places include schools, children's homes & hospitals, juvenile detention facilities, adult care homes and HM prisons. All types of roles in those places are regulated.
Frequently, intensively or overnight mean activities that take place once a week (or more), or on 4 or more occasions in a period of 30 days, or between 2am and 6am. Please note, this refers to:
- Frequent or intensive contact with the same child/children or vulnerable adults
- Frequent or intensive work in the same specified place
Specified nature is where people are providing e.g. teaching, training, care, supervision, advice, treatment or transport to vulnerable adults or children and includes the following:
- Teachers
- Private tutors
- Childcare workers
- Fostering
- Youth workers
- People advising ‘Childline' callers
- Children's sports coaches
- Care workers
- Domiciliary care workers
- Dentists, Osteopaths and Opticians
- Nurses and GPs
- Contracted taxi drivers
- Driving instructors
- Probation officers
- Prison Officers
- Foreign exchange workers
- Host Families
- Volunteers in the sector and
- “Defined Office Holders” eg Directors of Children's Services, Trustees of children's Charities, and School Governors
East Sussex County Council