New service allows DBS to respond quicker to recruitment requests during COVID-19
Temporary arrangements have been put in place, to provide DBS checks and fast-track emergency checks of the Adults’ and Children’s Barred Lists free-of-charge.
In response to coronavirus (COVID-19), the Home Office and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) have put temporary arrangements in place, to provide DBS checks and fast-track emergency checks of the Adults’ and Children’s Barred Lists free-of-charge.
This will apply to healthcare and social care workers being recruited in connection with the provision of care and treatment of coronavirus in England and Wales, including some of those who have volunteered to help the NHS.
These arrangements will provide employers with the option to appoint new recruits into regulated activity with adults and/or children, as long as the individuals are not barred and appropriate measures are put in place to manage the individual until the full DBS check is received.
DBS works to support recruiters and voluntary organisations by allowing employers to make safer recruitment decisions. The whole country is coming together to overcome the COVID-19 crisis and thousands of volunteers have come forward to support the health service although the vast majority of these people will not require a DBS check.
Dr Gillian Fairfield, DBS Chairman said:
We understand the vital role that DBS has to play in the country’s response to the pandemic. We have been working closely with the Home Office and the Department of Health and Social Care in order to introduce measures that allow us to respond quickly to the applications, as we recognise that the care sector needs immediate support from new recruits and volunteers.
The introduction of a fast track Adults’ and Children’s Barred List check will allow the NHS, and other healthcare and voluntary sector organisations to get the right people into the right place quickly and safely.
Eric Robinson, DBS Chief Executive added:
The organisation is fully prepared, and we have measures in place to ensure we can continue to operate with minimal disruption to our services.
This new fast-track check is designed to help support the national effort to fight coronavirus. We need to make sure that only those eligible for those checks are requesting them as misuse of the emergency provision will delay the urgent deployment of health and social care personnel.