Vetting Checks

A Children’s Barred List check must be undertaken on all staff working in Regulated Activity.   Where an Enhanced DBS Check is undertaken, this should include a Children’s Barred List Check.  Where a member of staff commences work before a DBS Certificate is received, a Children’s Barred List check must be undertaken separately.  Please refer to Schoolsweb for further information on how to request a Children’s Barred List check and also about the Risk Assessment process.

Volunteers who are closely supervised would not usually be deemed to be undertaking Regulated Activity.  In those circumstances, a school has discretion about whether to obtain an Enhanced DBS check.  A Children’s Barred List Check must not be included in those circumstances (refer to previous information on Risk Assessments for volunteers.)

Please note that with effect from 1 September 2016 it is mandatory for all Governors in schools to have an Enhanced DBS Check.  A Children’s Barred List Check should only be included if a Governor is also undertaking any other activity in the school which falls within the definition of Regulated Activity.

Some employees working in Special Secondary Schools may provide sensitive personal care to pupils aged 18 years’ of age and older.  Employees providing those kinds of services to older pupils may be regarded as undertaking “regulated activity” for adults and consequently may require an Enhanced DBS Check that includes not just a Children’s Barred List Check but also an Adults’ Barred List Check.  Further information about “regulated activity” for adults is at the following publication: Department of Health Regulated Activity (Adults).  Alternatively, please contact the HR Service Desk (01296 382233) which will then forward your query to the DBS Team which will provide further guidance and information in relation to your query.

The DBS Update Service was introduced in June 2013 and enables individuals to subscribe annually to the Service and allows a DBS Certificate to be portable.

Where individuals have lived or worked outside the UK for six months or more in the previous five years at the point of submitting a DBS Check application then a Certificate of Good Conduct (CGC) – in effect a police check of criminal records – should be obtained, where possible, from each county where an individual has lived for six or more months.  Where a CGC cannot be obtained then after all reasonable efforts a self-declaration (see template Declaration at the Schoolsweb) may need to be completed. (KCSiE 2023 paragraphs 279 – 284)