As teachers and pupils resume a new school year, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is playing a vital role in helping ensure the highest standards of safeguarding across the education sector.
Since April 2022:
- DBS has issued more than 1.7m Enhanced Disclosure certificates for staff and volunteers working in the education sector
- Peak months for issuing enhanced certificates in the education sector were - July 2022 (129,000+); October 2022 (136,000+); July 2023 (131,000+)
- DBS achieved an average turnaround time of 9.4 days for enhanced certificates issued to education sector providers
*against DBS targets to process 80% of all enhanced Disclosures within 14 days
Eric Robinson, Chief Executive for the Disclosure and Barring Service, said:
"DBS checks in education are an essential safeguarding tool, improving the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.
"We take responsibility and pride in providing over 1.7 million Enhanced Disclosure certificates every year, for staff and volunteers working in the education sector and for achieving an average turnaround time of less than 10 days."
Any person choosing to work in a nursery, school or college will require an Enhanced DBS certificate, along with a Barred list check - preventing unsuitable candidates from working with children in any capacity.
An Enhanced DBS certificate will contain details of convictions and conditional cautions considered 'unspent' under the terms of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The certificate may also contain non-conviction information supplied by relevant police forces (if it is deemed relevant and ought to be contained).
An individual cannot apply for an Enhanced DBS check by themselves. There must be a recruiting organisation who needs the applicant to get the check. This is then sent to DBS through a Registered Body.
The service is free for volunteers.
