Management Information Sheet

The Government is committed to making criminal record checks more proportionate and to give the public greater control over their information. As a result the Disclosure and Barring Service (previously the CRB) is introducing some changes from 17 June 2013. These changes are:

• Launch of the DBS Update Service
• Introduction of Applicant only certificates
• Changes to the Position Applied for field on the application form

The Update Service

From 17 June applicants for a DBS check will be able to subscribe to the new Update Service. Once subscribed the individual will be able to take their certificate with them from role to role where the same level and type of check is required. The Update Service will cost £13 per year as an annual subscription but is free to volunteers.

The status check allows employers with the individual’s permission to go on-line for a free and instant check to find out whether the individual’s certificate is still up to date. The check will reflect any new updated criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings and for those where an enhanced DBS certificate is required, any new, relevant police information. It will also indicate if the person has been barred. Criminal record conviction and barring information is updated weekly. Non conviction information will be updated every nine months.

The DBS anticipates that regulators will accept a Status check if the DBS certificate being checked is the same level and type as is required by them. DBS though recommend speaking with your regulator to confirm their requirements. No statement has yet been made about this new service in terms of acceptability by DfE / Ofsted.

Applicant Only Certificates

From 17 June the DBS will only issue Certificates to the applicant and not the Registered Body requesting the check. This puts the applicant in control of their own data.

Changes to the “Position Applied for” field on the application form

At the same time as the Update Service is introduced the DBS will use a new relevancy test when releasing non-conviction information about the individual. It will now be based on the type of the workforce and no longer the actual job role. This change means that DBS certificates can be taken from role to role within the same workforce, working with children, adults, both or other. To accommodate this change Registered Bodies must now specify the workforce as well as the description for the position applied for.

Schools are advised to review their Safeguarding Policy and Recruitment practice to reflect these changes. Those schools who receive their HR Service from Norfolk County Council and / or obtain DBS Disclosures via Norfolk Disclosures will receive further advice and guidance.

Further information can be found on the Disclosure and Barring website.