DBS Checks for Charity Workers

When working with a charity, it is of high importance that that staff are DBS checked to ensure they are suitable to work with both children and adults.

DBS Checks for Charities – Working with Children

Do you work for a charity? Are you thinking about your safeguarding process? Many charity workers who work or volunteer with children will require a DBS check. Depending on the roles you’re offering, you might need a Standard or Enhanced DBS check.

What Type of DBS Check Do You Need to Work with Children?

Trustees of a children’s charity

The Charity Commission recommends that DBS checks should be obtained for trustees of charities that work with children. They would require an Enhanced DBS check in the child workforce.

If the trustee also undertakes additional Regulated Activity roles for the charity, they can apply for an Enhanced DBS check with a check of the Children’s Barred List.

Volunteering or working with children

If you work or volunteer for a charity and as part of your role you undertake Regulated Activity with children, you will require an Enhanced DBS check with a check of the Children’s Barred List.

Regulated Activity (i.e., work that a barred person must not do) in relation to children comprises, in summary:

Unsupervised activities: teaching, training, instructing, caring for or supervising children, providing advice/guidance on well-being, or driving a vehicle only for children.
Work for a limited range of establishments (‘specified places’), with opportunities for contact, such as schools, children’s homes, and childcare premises. Not work by supervised volunteers.

Work under (1) or (2) is regulated activity only if done regularly: “regularly” is defined as once a week or more often, on four or more days in a 30-day period or overnight.

Relevant personal care (undertaking any of the following roles with children because of their age, illness or disability): physically assisting a child, prompting and then supervising a child or training, instructing or providing advice or guidance to a child on eating or drinking or physically assisting a child, prompting and then supervising a child or training, instructing or providing advice or guidance to a child with going to the toilet, or washing, bathing or dressing a child.

People that provide unsupervised day-to-day management or supervision of a person carrying out regulated activity relating to children is also in regulated activity.

Some examples of these roles are:

Children’s charity helpline call handlers who provide advice and guidance to children.

Charity workers who regularly volunteer or work in a Specified Establishment with opportunity for face-to-face contact with children.

DBS Checks for Charities – Working with Adults

DBS checks for charity workers can vary, and when working with adults, there are several circumstances which can require different types of DBS checks. Read below to find out more.

What Type of DBS Check Do You Need to Work with Adults?

Working with vulnerable adults in the Charity Sector

Charity trustees

Charity trustees can be asked to apply for an Enhanced DBS check in the adult workforce if the charity workers or volunteers include those who carry out work that falls into the legal definition of ‘work with adults’.

The details of what makes up ‘work with adults’ is defined below in Annexe A.

Volunteers or paid staff who provide Regulated Activity to Adults

Anyone working or volunteering for a charity whose job or volunteering role is providing Regulated Activity with Adults must apply an Enhanced DBS Check on the adult workforce with a check of the Adult Barred List.

The details of what makes up ‘Regulated Activity with Adults’ is defined below in Annexe B.

Charity Retail Workers

Anyone working in retail, such as charity shops, can apply for a Basic DBS check, regardless of who they are working with. This can be applied for directly with the DBS.

Meals-on-wheels

If the service purely relates to delivering something (even if it involves entering the house), people in this role could only be asked to apply for a Basic DBS check. This can be applied for directly with the DBS.

Please click here to read the annexes.

Why Use eSafeguarding?

At eSafeguarding we pride ourselves on our quick and easy DBS processing systems. Also, we will validate data as soon as the information is entered, with applicants being prompted to correct invalid information as they go. This ensures that there are no missed fields, no mistakes, and no returns.

Our team members work tirelessly to provide you with a swift, secure, personalised, and compliant service.

Enquire About DBS Checks for Charities Today

For any help related to DBS checks, contact our friendly team of experts today. Either fill out the contact form here, email us using the address below, or give us a call, and we will endeavour to help you with your enquiry.

If you would like some advice about carrying out DBS checks, please visit our FAQs page for further information.

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