Safer recruitment and DBS

The Disclosure and Barring service (DBS) aims to provide employers with a quick and effective vetting and barring service. All disclosures about potential employees for working with children and vulnerable persons must be at an enhanced level.

Legislation sets out the foundation for the DBS. This Service has an Independent Barring Board (IBB) with responsibility for taking barring decisions on new referrals and the management of two barred lists which replaced List 99, Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) and Protection of Vulnerable Adults (POVA)Lists.

The DBS combines a criminal records checking and barring function:

The barring part of the DBS will provide caseworkers, who receive and process referrals about individuals who have harmed or who pose a risk of harm to children, young people or vulnerable adults.
The checking part of the DBS will allow employers to check and access the criminal record history of people working, or applying to work (whether paid or unpaid) in certain positions, especially those that involve working with children and vulnerable adults.

The DBS website provides a range of advice, guidance and relevant forms.

Safer recruitment

All organisations engaging people in 'Regulated Activities' must have robust and transparent recruitment procedures in place to ensure children, young people and vulnerable adults are safeguarded and they should be familiar with the Local Safeguarding Children Board policies and procedures.

Other relevant information can be found in the Working Together to Safeguard Children publication.

Before recruiting staff and volunteers (whether paid or unpaid), the following must be considered:

The application process must include the organisations commitment to safeguarding in, for example, the Job Description and any other documentation
Thorough checks must be made of an applicant's identity, work history and references including any gaps in employment/time
Proof of qualifications must be obtained
Checks with the Disclosure and Barring Service must be undertaken including checks against the DBS Barred Lists
A probationary period and supervision of the person must take place
References must be obtained and verified by telephone

You can read more about safer recruitment on the South West Child Protection Procedures (SWCPP) website.

Referrals to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS Checks)

Regulated activity providers (employers, volunteer managers and personnel suppliers) have a legal duty to refer any person who has:

Harmed or poses a risk of harm to a child or vulnerable adult
Satisfied the harm test or received a caution or conviction for a relevant offence

The following groups have a power to make a referral to the DBS:

Local authorities (safeguarding role)
Education and library boards
Health and social care (HSC) trusts (NI)
Keepers of registers eg General Medical Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council
Supervisory authorities eg Care Quality Commission, Ofsted

Further information and guidance, including factsheets and instructions can be found on the GOV.UK website.

Torbay Safeguarding Children Partnership