Job Seekers

Nursing and Social Care Workforce Teams

Healthcare (Nursing) Assistants

Integral members of nursing teams, working across hospitals, clinics, and community settings.

Allied Health Professionals

Representing the third-largest clinical workforce in the NHS, contributing specialized expertise.

Social Workers

Experts in supporting individuals, families, and communities, advocating for human rights and well-being.

Support Workers

Professionals assisting healthcare teams in diverse settings, aiding patients in their recovery journey.

Registered Nurses

Qualified professionals registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), specializing in adult, pediatric, mental health, or learning disability nursing.

DBS Checks

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) supports safer recruitment practices by preventing unsuitable individuals from working with vulnerable groups. It replaced the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA).

DBS Responsibilities involve

Processing criminal record checks.
Managing inclusion on or removal from barred lists in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Issuing DBS certificates with sensitive and secure handling protocols.

Levels of DBS Checks

Basic DBS Check

Includes unspent convictions or conditional cautions.

Standard DBS Check

Covers spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, or warnings.

Enhanced DBS Check

Includes all standard check information plus relevant details from local police.

Referrals

Employers or regulatory bodies must make referrals to the DBS when they identify a potential risk of harm to vulnerable groups. Further guidance is available on the DBS website.

Barring Decisions and Procedures

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) ensures fair, consistent, and thorough decisions regarding barring individuals, carefully balancing the potential harm caused with the risks posed by allowing someone to work in regulated activities. The impact of these decisions is significant, both for individuals under consideration and the vulnerable groups they may encounter. These complex decisions require careful evaluation.

Routes to DBS Barring:

Automatic Barring (Auto Bars)

Without Representation: Individuals cautioned or convicted of specific offenses are automatically added to the barred list without the opportunity to provide representation, regardless of whether they currently engage in regulated activities.

With Representation: For certain offenses, individuals may provide representation before DBS decides whether they should be barred. The decision depends on their past, current, or potential involvement in regulated activities

Disclosure Information Cases

When a DBS certificate application for roles involving children or vulnerable adults reveals a criminal history, the DBS evaluates whether barring is necessar

Referrals from Organizations

Employers or organizations with a legal duty to report must refer cases to DBS when an employee is removed from regulated activity due to harm or risk of harm to children or vulnerable adults.

Regulated Activity Test

A revised test determines if an individual can be barred. DBS may only bar individuals if it believes they are, have been, or may in the future engage in regulated activity, unless they are automatically barred due to specific offenses. For automatic barring cases with representation rights, DBS considers the individual's representations before making a final decision.

Collaboration and Information Sharing

The DBS works with several key organizations to ensure thorough evaluations and safeguarding:

Police

Provide locally held information through the Police National Computer, following the Quality Assurance Framework by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).

Department for Education

Manages child safeguarding policies

Department of Health

Oversees policies for safeguarding vulnerable groups.

TATA Consultancy Services (TCS)

Operates the DBS's administrative infrastructure and call center.

Registered Bodies

These organizations validate disclosure applications and confirm applicant identities. Their responsibilities are: Reviewing and verifying application information, Establishing and confirming the applicant's identity, Submitting completed applications, Countersigning forms to confirm eligibility.

This comprehensive collaboration ensures safeguarding processes are robust and serve to protect vulnerable individuals effectively.