Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) Policy

Introduction and Legislative Background

It is essential that all people working in Ashford & St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (the Trust) are trustworthy and reliable. The Trust has a duty to ensure that patients receive a good standard of care and to take all practicable steps to ensure the safety of patients and staff by undertaking thorough pre-employment checks. The Trust is committed to best practice in recruitment to ensure that all appointments are safe.

The CRB was established under Part V of the Police Act 1997 and was launched in March 2002. The Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS) was established by the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act (SVGA) 2006 to ensure that everyone barred from working in regulated activity with children (defined as those under 18) or vulnerable adults is listed.

The Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA), was set up on July 2010 to make decisions as to who should be barred from working with vulnerable groups. Instead of several different lists of barred individuals, the ISA maintains a single list of people barred from working with children and a single list relating to vulnerable adults

From December 2012, the CRB and ISA merged to create the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). This new organisation provides a joined up service to combine the criminal records and barring functions.

The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 brings in changes to the Disclosure and Barring Services with effect from 10 September 2012 and subsequently in December 2012 and early 2013. Current guidance can be seen here.

Policy Details

See also:

• Recruitment and Selection Policy