DBS Checks for GP practice staff and medical centres are an essential part of safeguarding.
As staff are likely to be working with vulnerable or injured people, DBS Checks are necessary for both legal compliance and the ability to make safer recruitment decisions.
Considering the nature of work in surgeries and medical centres, it may seem like every member of staff should require an Enhanced DBS Check with a check against the relevant barred list. However, this is not the case.
If you work for or in a doctor’s surgery or medical centre and are unsure what level of DBS Check would be appropriate, we’ve put this guide together to help give you a better understanding.
Who needs a DBS Check at GP Practices?
Healthcare Positions i.e. – Doctors, Nurses and Healthcare Assistants will need an Enhanced check, against both children and adults barred lists for safeguarding purposes.
Medical Receptionist/Admin Positions – These will need a standard check due to the establishment and environment they are working. The only abnormality will be if they are also chaperoning, then because of this they would be eligible for an enhanced check with barred lists again for safeguarding purposes.
Practice managers – From what we now understand in GP surgeries there can be different types of practice managers. If the practice manager is solely admin-based and has no input/role in overseeing healthcare or any other duties which relate to this, they will only need a standard check. If however, as a lot of practice managers do, they oversee the care of the patients or the healthcare professionals or both, they would be eligible for an Enhanced disclosure with both barred lists.
Cleaners – For cleaners and similar roles, if they are working within the practice within working practice hours they are eligible for a Standard disclosure however if they are doing the work when the practice is shut and they have no interaction with patients these positions will not be eligible for a DBS disclosure but only a Basic Criminal Record Check. Basic Criminal Record Checks however are still very useful as they do show up any unspent convictions on somebody’s record which is still important to know for recruitment purposes.
What level of DBS Check is appropriate – medical staff
All roles in a surgery or medical centre that provide healthcare are liable to require an Enhanced DBS Check.
As providing healthcare is considered a regulated activity, anyone requiring an Enhanced DBS Check will also be entitled to a check of the children’s and vulnerable adult’s barred lists.
This means their information will be cross-referenced with these lists to confirm whether they are barred from working with either of these vulnerable groups.
But what about employees who do not provide healthcare services to patients?
What level of DBS Check is appropriate – non-medical staff
Employees such as reception staff do not provide healthcare, so are not likely to be eligible for the same level of DBS Check as medical staff.
If applicants have access to patients who are receiving healthcare within the course of their normal duties this would make them eligible for the standard level of DBS Check.
This eligibility changes, however, if reception staff take on the role of a chaperone.
A chaperone may accompany patients into a medical appointment – so with that in mind, a doctor’s surgery may request an Enhanced DBS Check for the member of staff if their role as chaperone requires them to supervise a child or dress a patient.
If you are still unsure of the DBS Check eligibility of a member of your staff we recommend checking with a regulatory body such as the Care Quality Commission to confirm their criminal record checking policy as part of the DBS application process.
Get your DBS checks for GP practice staff with us!
While the eligibility for DBS checks for GP practice staff or medical centres may seem obvious, the level of check required for employees will depend on their role and their proximity to patients.
We hope that this guide has been useful in distinguishing the appropriate levels of DBS Checks for employees and what is most appropriate for your staff.
Have any questions? Reach out to us today! Here at uCheck, we’re here to help you simplify your background screening requirements. Looking to recruit for your GP practice? We’ve got your back. With our simple online platform, you can receive results for your DBS Checks in as little as 48 hours, helping you to speed up your recruitment process! Learn more today.
