A vast majority of contractors will only be entitled to apply for a Basic Criminal Record check; however, those that have contracts in place with required establishments may require a DBS check.
DBS Checks for contractors working in specified establishments
Specified establishments are schools, pupil referral units, academies, nursery schools, Further Education (FE) establishments mostly for children, institutions for the detention of children, children’s homes, children’s centres (in England), children’s hospitals (in Northern Ireland) and childcare premises including nurseries.
Contractors working in any of the above would need to meet a certain frequency in order to be eligible for a DBS check.
Frequency
Frequency when working in a specified establishment must be once a week or more or four times in any 30 day period.
DBS checks for contractors working in hospitals
One question that will be asked and which will also determine the eligibility is;
Will your contractors have access to patient’s wards?
If you answer yes, your contractors would be entitled to request the Standard DBS check.
DBS checks for contractors working in care homes
Contractors who are frequently carrying out work in a care/residential home may be eligible for an Enhanced DBS check. Please check your frequency with a customer services representative if you are unsure.
Alternative checks for contractors working in commercial or domestic premises
Contractors that do not have contracts in place with specified establishments would only be eligible to apply for Basic Criminal Record checks.
A Basic Criminal Record Check allows organisations with the applicant’s permission, to find out about any unspent criminal convictions they may have.
Unspent criminal convictions are ones that have been recorded in recent years or are so serious they will always be unspent.
It is a check that is used by thousands of organisations throughout the country to ensure that those people they are engaging are suitable for the role.
As DBS checks are being more frequently asked for contractors, we hope you found DBS Checks for Contractors very useful.
Be sure to get in touch with us if you have any further questions. You can apply for a number of DBS Checks through our simple online platform – most checks are completed within 48 hours. Get started now.
