About your organisation
The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) helps employers make safer recruitment decisions each year by processing and issuing DBS checks for England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. DBS also maintains the Adults’ and Children’s Barred Lists, and makes considered decisions as to whether an individual should be included on one or both of these lists and barred from engaging in regulated activity.
Our disclosure teams carry out DBS checks (previously known as CRB, or criminal record checks).
There are four types of DBS check, and each type results in a DBS certificate being issued to an individual. Employers can then ask to see the certificate to ensure that they are recruiting suitable people into their organisation.
The four levels of DBS check are:
A Basic DBS check is for any purpose, including employment. The certificate will contain details of convictions and conditional cautions that are considered to be unspent under the terms of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974.
A Standard DBS check is suitable for certain roles, such as a security guard. The certificate will contain details of both spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings that are held on the Police National Computer, which are not subject to filtering.
An individual cannot apply for a standard 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.
Enhanced DBS check
An Enhanced DBS check is suitable for people working with children or adults in certain circumstances such as those in receipt of healthcare or personal care. An Enhanced DBS check is also suitable for a small number of other roles such as taxi licence applications or people working in the Gambling Commission.
The certificate will contain the same details as a standard certificate and, if the role is eligible, an employer can request that one or both of the DBS Barred Lists are checked.
The certificate may also contain non-conviction information supplied by relevant police forces, if it is deemed relevant and ought to be contained in the certificate.
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.
Enhanced with Barred Lists DBS check
An Enhanced with Barred Lists DBS check is also suitable for people working with children or adults in certain circumstances such as those in receipt of healthcare or personal care.
An Enhanced with Barred Lists certificate will contain the same information as an Enhanced DBS certificate, but will also include a check of one or both Barred Lists.
Dr Gillian Fairfield Chair
Eric Robinson Chief Executive
Why the Disclosure and Barring Service is supporting Boardroom Apprentice
DBS has a long established Board Apprentice programme. We want to strengthen the breadth and diversity of talent applying for public appointments in the UK. You will build experience and skills working at Board level which will help you in applying for and taking up your first public appointments.
We also value the breadth and diversity of views that board apprentices bring to the board’s discussions to which you will be invited to contribute.
Location of Board and Committee Meetings
The Board meets eight times per year and most committees four. Board meetings are full days. Committee meetings are 3 hours.
Frequency and timing of board/committee meetings
The Board meets eight times per year and most committees four. Board meetings are full days. Committee meetings are 3 hours.
Date of Board Meetings (January – December 2025)
23 January 2025, 20 March 2025, 15 May 2025, 12 June 2025, 10 July 2025, 25 September 2025, 16 October 2025, 13 November 2025, 15 January 2026, 12 March 2026
Committee of the Boards and meeting dates (January – December 2025)
Audit and Risk Committee – 26 February 2025, 2 May 2025, 27 June 2025, 23 October 2025, 19 February 2025
Change Management Committee – 12 February 2025, 26 June 2025, 11 September 2025, 11 December 2025, 2 March 2026
People Committee – 6 March 2025, 1 May 2025, 10 September 2025, 6 January 2026, 26 February 2026
Quality Finance and Performance Committee – 8 January 2025, 5 March 2025, 1 May 2025, 26 June 2025, 28 August 2025, 30 October 2025, 6 January 2026, 25 February 2026
Security checks
Security checks are required to BPSS level.
Payment of travel expenses
Yes