Publication scheme

The publication scheme details the information that DBS publishes and explains how to obtain that information.

Introduction to the DBS publication scheme

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) publication scheme details which information held by DBS is available to you. Most of the information that is available through the scheme can be found across this website. Alternatively, it may be provided upon request.

The publication scheme was established in accordance with Section 19 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and in accordance with guidance issued by the Information Commissioner’s Office.

Classes of information

The DBS publication scheme consists of seven classes of information which are detailed in this section, alongside advice on how you can access what you require.

The seven classes of information in the DBS publication scheme are:

  1. Who we are and what we do
  2. What we spend and how we spend it
  3. What our priorities are and how we are doing
  4. How we make our decisions
  5. Our policies and procedures
  6. Lists and registers
  7. Services we offer

How to find information

DBS publishes detailed information and relevant documents on this website and continues to keep information updated in response to changes to legislation and guidance.

Our publications are free-of-charge unless specified otherwise.

Find out more about DBS checks and barred lists. Detailed guidance is also available for employers about requesting DBS checks.

If you do not know the precise title of a document the website search facility should direct you to the relevant page. You can search the GOV.UK publications section for all DBS publications. These can be filtered to find what you are looking for. For example, you can search for our transparency data.

You can also search for DBS documents using any free internet browser.

What if I can’t find a particular document?

If you are unable to find a particular document on this website you may submit a request to DBS by:

DBS Freedom of Information Department
PO Box 165
Liverpool
L69 3JD

Please title your request ‘publication scheme request’.

1. Who we are and what we do

Roles and responsibilities

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.

Organisation structure

Please email dbsfoi@dbs.gov.uk if you have a specific enquiry about the organisation structure.

Information relating to the legislation relevant to DBS’ functions

The primary role of DBS is to help employers make safer recruitment decisions and prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable groups including children.

Legislation relevant to DBS’ functions can be found within the ‘About us’ section of this website.

DBS partners and organisations we work alongside

DBS is an executive non-departmental public body of the Home Office and delivers its service through a number of strategic partnerships.

A list of the other partners that DBS works with can be found in a number of our Privacy Policies and in the ‘What we do’ section of this website.

You can read the DBS framework which sets out the high level parameters that explain how partner organisations will work together.

Senior management and board members

The DBS board is responsible for the strategic leadership of the organisation and consists of the DBS chairman and appointed members.

The board has collective responsibility for the proper conduct of DBS affairs. This role can be summarised as direction, monitoring and control, assurance, and propriety.

The DBS board constitution sets out the governance arrangements for the board and its committees, and in particular details the legislative framework for the board, the composition of the board, and the role of the board in delivering DBS services.

The DBS chairman is Dr. Gillian Fairfield. The ‘Our management’ section on the homepage of the DBS website provides further information about the senior management team and board members, including their profiles.

Additional information about our chief executive, chairman, and board members can be found in the DBS Annual Report and Accounts).

Locations and contact details

DBS operates its barring services from Darlington, and its disclosure services from Liverpool.

Barring address:

DBS
PO Box 3963
Royal Wootton Bassett
SN4 4HF

Disclosure address:

DBS customer services
PO Box 3961
Royal Wootton Bassett
SN4 4HF

Other contact points are available on our GOV.UK homepage.

2. What we spend and how we spend it

Financial statements, budgets, variance reports, and financial audit reports

The DBS Annual Report and Accounts shows how DBS has spent the resources allocated to it, as well as planned future spend. It also contains DBS’ financial audit reports.

You can also find DBS Annual Reports and Accounts for previous years.

Internal financial regulations

Details of DBS’ internal financial regulations are available in the Home Office annual reports and accounts.

DBS transparency spending

Information around DBS transparency spending can be found in the ‘Transparency spending over £25,000 and procurement card transactions of £500 and over’ documents.

DBS staff and board member allowances and expenses

Details of the chief Executive, chairman, board member expenses, and hospitality spend are published on this website.

Salary and pension information for the chief executive, chairman, and board members are available in the DBS Annual Report and Accounts.

For publications from our legacy organisations please see:

Pay and grading structures

The Home Office publishes staff numbers and costs every month. This includes DBS staff.

Pay and grading scales from CRB and ISA are available on the National Archives website.

Procurement and tendering procedures

DBS follows standard Home Office procurement procedures. Contracts for goods and services are subject to these procedures.

Lists of contracts awarded and their value

DBS procures through the Home Office and the Procurement Centre of Excellence (PCoE).

Details of published contracts and tender documents over £10,000 can be found on the Contracts Finder pages.

Financial statements for projects and events

You can find financial information in the [Annual Report and Accounts] (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-annual-report-and-accounts-2022-to-2023).

You can also read DBS Annual Reports and Accounts for previous years.

3. What are our priorities and how are we doing

All DBS annual reports, and corporate, strategic, and business plans are available in the corporate reports section of this website.

Internal and external organisation performance review

Statistics produced in accordance with NDPB requirements

DBS performance figures are published regularly.

The DBS Annual Report and Accounts shows our key performance indicators (KPIs).

Privacy impact assessments and equality impact assessments

Privacy impact assessments and equality impact assessments are published on this website:

4. How we make our decisions

Major policy proposals and decisions:

Background information for major policy proposals and decisions

The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 received Royal Assent in May 2012 and created DBS. Schedule 8 of the Act provides for the legislative framework for the operation of DBS, which became operational on 1 December 2012.

As a result of the Act, major changes to the service have been implemented. These are:

Public consultations

DBS hasn’t carried out any public consultations.

Minutes of senior level meetings

These are available on request although exemptions may apply. Please email the DBS FOI team.

Reports and papers provided for consideration at senior level meetings

These are available on request although exemptions may apply. Please email the DBS FOI team.

5. Our policies and procedures

DBS policies and procedures are available to view and download from this website, however, if you cannot find a particular policy or procedure please email the DBS FOI team. Exemptions may apply.

Some policies, procedures, and internal communications guidance may only be available on request. Please email the dbsfoi@dbs.gov.uk. Exemptions may apply.

Policies and procedures for recruiting and employing staff

DBS’ recruitment policy will be published shortly. Please email dbsfoi@dbs.gov.uk if you have a specific enquiry about recruiting and employing staff.

To view any current vacancies at DBS, please visit the Civil Service Jobs website website.

More information about recruitment can be found in the ‘Working for DBS’ section of this website.

Customer service

You can find out how to contact DBS by looking at the range of contact channels at the bottom of our homepage.

If you are dissatisfied with our service you can find out what to do in our complaints procedure.

Records management and personal data policies

The DBS privacy policies provide details of how we manage and use your data.

Other policies may only be available upon request. Please email dbsfoi@dbs.gov.uk with your request. Exemptions may apply.

6. List and registers

Asset registers and information asset register

These are available on request although exemptions may apply. Please email dbsfoi@dbs.gov.uk.

Freedom of Information logs and requests

We publish a list of FOI requests received each quarter here.

FOI requests released by the CRB and ISA can be viewed on the National Archives website.

Register of gifts and hospitality provided to senior management and board members

The gifts and hospitality register is available on request. Exemptions may apply. Email dbsfoi@dbs.gov.uk.

Any register of interests kept by DBS

We publish a register of interest for DBS board members.

DBS follows Home Office guidelines in relation to the register of interests.

7. The services we offer

This website provides information and guidance about the services we offer.

For those services that require a fee, details of these costs are also available on the relevant website pages.

If you would like to find out more you can register to receive email updates about the services we offer.

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