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Supervising Children In Work Experience

supervising work experience

Supervising children in work experience at a company may seem like a common occurrence, but we’re often asked whether this requires employees at said company to require a valid DBS Check certificate.

To answer these questions we’ve written this guide on supervising children in work experience – be sure to read on if you’re unsure whether you or your staff require a DBS Check (as well as if a DBS Check is needed for the work experience student themselves).

 

What scenarios require a DBS Check?

Employees that are supervising someone on work experience may require an Enhanced DBS Check if the supervisor is liable to engage in regulated activity with the child.

This means that the following scenarios, a work experience supervisor would be eligible for an Enhanced DBS Check.

  • Supervising a child aged under 18 who is doing work experience that is not part of the child’s usual employment (including voluntary work)
  • Supervising a child aged under 16 who is doing work experience that is part of the child’s usual employment (including voluntary work)
  • If a supervisor is a manager / assistant manager whose duties require them to engage in regulated activity with a child

In these scenarios the supervisor must be carrying out this regulated activity at least once a week or three or more times in a 30-day period to be eligible for an Enhanced Check.

 

What is regulated activity?

Regulated activity refers to certain roles carried out by employees and supervisors in relation to children and vulnerable adults. If it is carried out by an individual, it would entitle them to an enhanced DBS check with applicable barred lists.

Anyone who provides training, instruction, teaching or guidance to children on a regular basis is considered to be carrying out regulated activity. This makes them eligible for an Enhanced DBS Check with a check against the children’s barred list.

 

Do students on work experience need a DBS Check?

Of course, it isn’t only supervisors that are eligible for a DBS Check – in certain circumstances a work experience student may require a valid DBS certificate.

These circumstances include the nature of the establishments the student may be doing work experience in, such as:

  • Care homes
  • Nurseries
  • Schools
  • Hospitals

Whether or not a work experience student is eligible for a DBS Check depends on the following:

  • Their age – only students aged 16 or over can have a DBS Check
  • The nature of the role – students will be eligible for an Enhanced DBS Check with a check of the relevant barred list if they are carrying out regulated activity with children and/or adults as part of their work experience role

 

Supervising children in work experience – conclusion

Depending on the ages of the students and the nature of the work, you and your employees may require a DBS Check. It is important that, for the sake of safeguarding, all necessary DBS Check certificates are up-to-date.

If an employer knowingly lets an employee who is on the DBS Adult’s or Children’s Barred list engage in regular activity with a child, then they are committing an offence. 

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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