Why are DBS checks important?

Posted 5 years ago

A DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check is a background check on individuals to assess whether they are eligible to work with vulnerable people, such as children and vulnerable adults.

DBS checks were also previously known as CRB checks, but are not referred to by that name anymore.

There are 4 different types of DBS checks. They are:

Basic Check – this contains details of criminal convictions and cautions from the Police National Computer (PNC) that are considered to be unspent under the terms of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974.
Standard Check – this contains details of all spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and final warnings from the PNC.
Enhanced Check – this contains the same PNC information as the standard check certificate but also includes a check of any additional information held by police forces.
Enhanced Check with Barred List(s) – this contains the same PNC information and check of information held by police forces as the enhanced check, but in addition will be checked against the children’s and/or adult’s barred lists.

Why is Safer Recruitment important?

Firstly, there’s a legal obligation to meet, which often requires adequate training for safer recruitment. So, recruiters and managers who are involved in the recruitment process need to understand what they must do in regards to safer recruitment.

In fact, at least one member of a recruitment board must be trained in safer recruitment, though it is best practice for all members to have adequate training.

But other than the fact that it is a legal requirement, recruiters have a moral obligation to protect vulnerable people from being exposed to somebody who is potentially dangerous.

It’s also a legal requirement for any employers that work in care and social care industries to notify the DBS if an employee/volunteer leaves a role because they harmed someone in their care. Additionally, anyone barred from such a role may not legally apply for the role, and it is also illegal for an employer to employ someone to the role if they have ever been barred.

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