The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) helps employers make safer recruitment decisions and prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable groups, including children. It replaces the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA).
The DBS is responsible for:
- processing and issuing DBS checks
- maintaining the adults' and children's Barred Lists
- making considered decisions as to whether an individual should be included on one or both of these lists and barred from engaging in regulated activity
Information for line managers
As a line manager you are responsible for ensuring that appropriate safeguards are in place at all times. Further information is available on your DBS check responsibilities.
Information for applicants
If you are applying for a job at the University that requires satisfactory DBS clearance, you will need to complete a DBS check. You will need to apply for a further check every three years if your role requires this. Further information is available on your responsibilities for applying for a DBS check.
Types of DBS check
| Group | Definition | Check Type | Starting Arrangements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 - Standard DBS Check | Covers duties, positions and licences included in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 e.g. court officers, employment within a prison, and Security Industry Authority (SIA) licences. | Provides details of all spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings from the Police National Computer (PNC) which have not been filtered in line with legislation. | Not able to start until acceptable disclosure has been received back from the DBS and agreed by recruiting manager. In exceptional situations following a risk assessment an employee may start before a disclosure is received but with full supervision and safeguards at all times until clearance is received. |
| Group 2 - Enhanced DBS Check | Covers specific duties, positions and licences included in both the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions Order 1975) and the Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) regulations. | Contains the same PNC information as a Standard DBS Check but also includes a check of information held by police forces. | Not able to start until acceptable disclosure has been received back from the DBS and agreed by recruiting manager. In exceptional situations following a risk assessment an employee may start before a disclosure is received but with full supervision and safeguards at all times until clearance is received. |
| Group 3 - Enhanced DBS & Barred List Check (Child) | Covers roles which require individuals to engage in regulated activity with children (including all posts working within a ‘specified place’) and a small number of posts as listed specifically for this category in the Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) regulations. | Provides an enhanced check, plus information from the DBS children's Barred List. | Not able to start until acceptable disclosure has been received back from the DBS and agreed by recruiting manager. In exceptional situations following a risk assessment an employee may start before a disclosure is received but with full supervision and safeguards at all times until clearance is received. |
| Group 4 - Enhanced DBS & Barred List Check (Adult) | Covers roles which require individuals to engage in regulated activity with adults and a small number of posts as listed specifically for this category in the Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) regulations. | Provides an enhanced check, plus information from the DBS adults' Barred List. | Not able to start until acceptable disclosure has been received back from the DBS and agreed by recruiting manager. In exceptional situations following a risk assessment an employee may start before a disclosure is received but with full supervision and safeguards at all times until clearance is received. |
| Group 5 - Enhanced DBS & Barred List Check (Child & Adult) | Covers roles which require individuals to engage in regulated activity with both children and adults and a small number of posts as listed specifically for this category in the Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) regulations. | Provides an enhanced check plus information from the DBS children's and adults' Barred Lists. | Not able to start until acceptable disclosure has been received back from the DBS and agreed by recruiting manager. In exceptional situations following a risk assessment an employee may start before a disclosure is received but with full supervision and safeguards at all times until clearance is received. |
| Group 6 - Basic DBS Check | Can be used for any position or purpose. | Provides details of 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. | Not able to start until a DBS check has been initiated. May start and work with additional supervision and safeguards until clearance is received. |