To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of caseworkers employed by the Independent Safeguarding Authority to make barring decisions under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 do not have (a) a university degree, (b) any A-levels and (c) more than four GCSEs at A* to C grade. (307862)

[holding answer 6 January 2010]: The Independent Safeguarding Authority recruits caseworkers based on competency based assessment which links to the skills and experience they can bring to the post rather than academic qualifications. However, the breakdown of the percentages of Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) caseworker qualifications (Levels 3-6) is as follows:

(a) Staff with degrees = 28 per cent.

(b) Staff with A levels = 49 per cent.

(c) Staff with four GCE/GCSE's grade A* to C or above = 70 per cent.

Casework Officers, Decision Makers, Team Managers and Unit Heads undertake the UCAPD—Professional Decision Making in the ISA. This programme is accredited by Teesside University and awards individuals 60 credits/units of an academic qualification.