BackDisclosure & Barring Service (DBS) Policy
Aim
In the UK the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) plays a crucial role in safeguarding vulnerable individuals including those who receive domiciliary care. The DBS check helps employers assess the suitability of individuals to work with vulnerable populations such as the elderly, young or disabled individuals who receive domiciliary care.
Cavendish Homecare Professionals understands the following:
DBS checks: Domiciliary care providers are typically required to request DBS checks for their employees who will have direct contact with vulnerable adults. These checks are categorized into three levels: Basic, Standard, and Enhanced. The level of check required depends on the nature of the role and the degree of contact with vulnerable individuals.
Enhanced DBS Checks: Enhanced DBS checks are often necessary for domiciliary care workers because they provide the most comprehensive background information. These checks include details of both spent and unspent convictions, cautions, warnings, and reprimands, as well as any relevant information held by local police forces.
Regulatory Requirements: The Care Quality Commission (CQC) and equivalent regulatory bodies in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland require domiciliary care providers to ensure that all staff members working with vulnerable adults have undergone appropriate DBS checks. This is a crucial element of meeting the regulatory standards for the provision of safe and high-quality care.
Continuous Monitoring: Domiciliary care providers are expected to keep their staff’s DBS checks up to date. This may involve conducting periodic rechecks, especially if staff members’ roles change or if new concerns arise. Cavendish Homecare staff are asked to join the Update Service so that their DBS status can be checked at least annually or whenever possible concerns are raised. Nurses or carers who do not join the Update Service are required to repeat their DBS every 1 year, or more regularly if they have had a break in service with Cavendish Homecare Professionals.
Referral to the DBS: Domiciliary care providers have a legal obligation to refer certain staff members to the DBS if they believe that an individual has caused harm or poses a risk to vulnerable adults. The DBS can then consider whether to bar the individual from working in regulated roles.
Applicants’ Responsibility: Individuals seeking employment in domiciliary care should be aware of the DBS requirements and be prepared to provide the necessary information and documents to facilitate the DBS check process as part of their application.
DBS Update Service: The DBS offers an Update Service that allows individuals to keep their DBS certificate up to date and share it with multiple employers, reducing the need for multiple DBS checks.
It’s important to note that the specific DBS policies and requirements may evolve over time, so both domiciliary care providers and job seekers should regularly check the official DBS website and the websites of relevant regulatory bodies, such as the CQC, for the most current information and guidance on DBS checks for domiciliary care in the UK.
Date: January 2024
Version: 2 (Review)
Source: ChatGPT