DBS Checks Explained
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is an official account that will show your current criminal record, including past convictions as well as other relevant information.
There are three different types of DBS check which are: Basic, Standard and Enhanced. Each of these checks returns different information, so it’s important you apply for and send across the correct one when asked.
Schools Plus DBS Check Policy
At Schools Plus, we require a Clean Enhanced DBS Checks (With Barring List) for any bookings with Vulnerable Adults or Under 18s. We require separate Clean Enhanced DBS Checks for every supervisor or volunteer who will be responsible for supervising children or vulnerable adults during the booking.
We will always ask for the DBS from you as early as we can in the booking process. This is to give you time to complete the documents, as well as assess who else involved in your booking might need to return one as well.
The Different Types of DBS Checks
A Clean DBS means a returned DBS Check, of any type, that shows no past criminal activity. The Enhanced DBS Check (With Barring List) (henceforth referred to as “DBS” in this article) is a specialist check that, as well showing any past criminal activity, will also include a check of the Disclosure and Barring Service’s barred list – which is a list of individuals who are barred from working with children or vulnerable adults.
It is vital that any supervisors or volunteers working with Vulnerable Adults or Under 18s do not appear on this list. The safety and wellbeing of our customers, clients and staff is of the utmost importance to us and therefore we will not allow any bookings with Vulnerable Adults or Under 18s to take place until we have received a DBS from all supervisors or volunteers involved in the booking.
Do Parents Need a DBS?
We are often asked if parents present at a booking need to return a DBS before bookings involving Vulnerable Adults or Under 18s can take place. The answer is no, unless a parent will act as a supervisor, which means being alone with Vulnerable Adults or Under 18s other than their own children, at any point during the booking. Any parent who is acting in a supervisorial role will need to return to us a DBS before we can allow the booking to take place.
DBS Checks for One-Off Bookings
Another situation where we will not require a DBS, when Vulnerable Adults or Under 18s are present, is for a one-off booking. Vulnerable Adults or Under 18s are most at risk in familiar surroundings, when they are less on guard, so a one-off booking does not require a DBS check. If you were to return for a second booking or wanted to book a series of sessions, then we would then need a DBS returned to us.
How to Obtain a DBS Check?
Each of the three different DBS Checks can be obtained online. A DBS Check must be carried out alone by each applicant, to avoid outside influence, so for that reason, we cannot directly assist in filling out the forms. Many volunteers and supervisors will have a DBS check carried out by an employer, their Club or Organisation or by an umbrella body for their type of activity. For those who do not, we direct you to the following website for guidance; https://www.carecheck.co.uk/. Unfortunately, Schools Plus are not able to process a DBS application on your behalf.
We hope the above has helped you in finding out how to obtain a DBS, when we will require one for a booking and why we ask for it. We will always try to help as best we can throughout the booking process with regards to the DBS checks. Please feel free to contact us on the details below if you have any further questions.
