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Limited Range Of Establishments: What Does This Mean?

limited range establishments

When determining if an applicant is eligible for a DBS check when working with children, an important consideration is their place of work.

If applicants are teaching/training/instructing/caring for or supervising children, as well as driving a vehicle solely for children then they would be engaging in regulated activity and eligible for an enhanced DBS check with a children’s barred list check too.

However, if they are not carrying out any of these activities, then their eligibility for a DBS can be based on their place of work.

Individuals will be eligible for a DBS check if they work for a limited range of establishments frequently, and with the opportunity for contact with children. But what are the limited range of establishments? And how do they affect the level of check required?

Limited range of establishments: what are they?

Limited range of establishments are otherwise known as ‘specified places’. They are institutions set out in legislation which mean that any individual working there, and meeting the required frequency of work, will be eligible for an enhanced DBS check.

Such specified places include, but are not limited to:

  • Schools
  • Nurseries
  • Children’s homes
  • Childcare premises

You can find a full list available from the Department for Education guidance available here on page eight.

There are no establishments for adults which are deemed to be limited ranges of establishments. However, employees at the following establishments can be eligible for a DBS Check because of their frequent access to people receiving care:

  • Care homes
  • Hospitals
  • Medical centres

What is the frequency of work that needs to be met?

For those individuals who are working for any of these limited range of establishments they would need to be meeting one of the following frequencies to entitle them to a check:

  • Once a week or more often, or on 3 or more days in a 30-day period
  • Overnight (2am-6am), with the opportunity for face to face contact with children.

Consequently, anyone working for a school full time, or part time, such as half days, would be eligible for an enhanced DBS disclosure with a children’s barred list check as they would be meeting this frequency. This could include those working in administration, or financial roles within a school, or nursery.

If an individual was working for one of these limited range of establishments on a contractual basis, such as an engineer, or school photographer, then it would only be if they were working in these specified places regularly, e.g. meeting this frequency that they would be eligible for an enhanced check.

It is important to note that the frequency applies to all limited range of establishments, meaning that a contractor would satisfy the frequency by working in a nursery for two days and a different school for another two.

Confirm the level of check

When determining who to request DBS checks for, and how often they should be requested, it is always important to consult with any regulatory body an organisation has.

For schools, nurseries, and childcare providers who are requesting DBS checks, we would always recommend confirming with Ofsted on their policies to ensure checks are being requested in accordance with their guidelines.

For companies who will be carrying out work for any of these limited range of establishments, we would recommend contacting the institution in question to confirm that the level of checks being requested will be accepted.

Limited range of establishments: a summary

So, what does a limited range of establishments actually mean?

As we have seen, this term simply refers to a set list of institutions which, by their nature, mean that individuals working there regularly should have a DBS check.

If you are looking to request checks on employees who will be working in one of these specified places, there are some key points to remember:

  • Confirm that the institution is recognized as one of these limited range of establishments.
  • Make sure that the applicant will be meeting one of the frequencies, e.g. regular work, or overnight.
  • Confirm with the establishment in question, or any appropriate regulatory body to ensure that the level of check, and scope of check being requested is appropriate.

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.

Our blogs are advisory in nature and reflect uCheck Limited’s current thinking about best and common practice in the subjects discussed.

The information contained in our blogs have been provided for information purposes only. This information does not constitute legal, professional, or commercial advice. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the content is up to date, useful and accurate, uCheck gives no guarantees, undertakings, or warranties in this regard, or, for any loss or damage caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with reliance on the use of such information.

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