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
The DBS runs its board apprentice programme for two main reasons. Firstly, it wants to provide opportunity for people who might not otherwise have the opportunity to develop and demonstrate skills as non-executives serving on a public board. This programme has been running for several years with notable success in participants going on to join boards in different settings.
Secondly, the DBS benefits by having apprentices join their board and committee meetings bringing a diversity of experience and views to bear on matters the meeting is considering.
Location of Board and Committee Meetings
Mostly by Teams, in-person once a year in Liverpool/ Darlington or London
Frequency and timing of board/committee meetings
Board meetings are monthly, barring April, August and December and are from 9.00am – 5.00pm. Committee meetings are quarterly and are 3 hours in length, held morning or afternoon as agreed.
Date of Board Meetings (January 2024 – December 2024)
January 25 2024
Committee of the Boards and meeting dates (January 2024 – December 2024)
TBC
