Schools have a responsibility to provide a safe environment in which children can learn, grow and develop. Carrying out DBS checks for teachers is a vital part of doing this.
DBS checks for teachers
DBS checks for teachers play a key role in ascertaining whether applicants are suitable to work with children.
Employers should carry out DBS checks on all teachers, as they are classed as ‘working in regulated activity’.
With regard to children, a person is considered to be working in regulated activity if their role involves:
- Teaching, training or instructing children
- Providing healthcare or personal care to children
- Supervising children or being left unsupervised with children in regulated contact
- Engaging in intimate personal care or overnight activity, even if it happens only once
- Offering advice or guidance (except legal advice) provided wholly or mainly for children which relates to their physical, emotional or educational wellbeing
- Activities taking place in a ‘limited range of establishments’; however, this may depend on the frequency
- Moderating an online forum targeted at children which is carried out by the same person
- Conveying and in responsibility for the children
- Childminding
- Fostering
A more detailed description of regulated activity is provided in the government’s Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance.
What sort of check should teachers have?
Teachers are required to undergo an enhanced DBS check with a check of the children’s barred list.
This type of check will show whether the applicant has any spent or unspent convictions, cautions, warnings or reprimands, as well as any relevant information held by the applicant’s local police department.
The check of the barred list will show whether the applicant has been barred from working with children.
Safer recruitment – appointing new staff
It’s essential for schools to foster a culture of safe recruitment. As part of that, they should adopt recruitment procedures which help deter, identify and reject applicants who pose a risk to children.
If a new staff member is taken on who currently holds an appropriate DBS disclosure, and they’ll be working in the same positon as in their former establishment, it’s at the new school’s discretion whether to carry out a new DBS disclosure or accept the former disclosure.
However, if the school is regulated under Ofsted they’ll need to bear in mind Ofsted’s regulation requirements in terms of how old the DBS check is. Whether they’ll be able to accept the check will be dependent on how long ago it was completed.
Most schools choose to undertake new DBS checks on all new staff members as part of their commitment to safe recruitment, as this is best practice.
DBS checks for teachers: a conclusion
All schools have a responsibility to protect the children in their care. DBS checks for teachers are a vital part of doing so.
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.
