There are a number of acronyms and definitions that are specific to safeguarding, this page will be kept updated as a quick reference guide.

CEOP    Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre, a police department

CRB      Criminal Records Bureau,  now part of the Disclosure and Barring Service

DBS       Disclosure and Barring Service

GTC-E   General Teaching Council for England – regulates the teaching profession.

GTC-W  General Teaching Council for Wales – regulates the teaching profession in Wales

ISA       Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA)

It was responsible for barring decisions as a non-departmental public body for England, Northern Ireland and Wales, and was merged with the CRB to form the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

LADO  Local Authority Designated Officer

LSCB   Local Safeguarding Children Board

OPG     Office of the Public guardian

PFA      Protection of Freedoms Act

ROA     Rehabilitation of Offenders Act

SVGA  Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006

VBS     Vetting & Barring Scheme

Volunteers  defined as ‘a person who is engaged in any activity which involves spending time unpaid (except for travelling and other out-of-pocket expenses) doing something which aims to benefit some third party other than or in addition to a close relative’

Vulnerable Adults The terminology of ‘vulnerable adults’ has moved towards ‘adults at risk of harm’, usually shortened to ‘adults at risk’ in policies and procedures.