Are DBS Checks Needed For Part-Time Jobs?
aThe Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) organises checks on applicants to ensure they have a clean criminal record before working with children or vulnerable adults or for jobs that involve a moderate to high degree of responsibility.
A DBS check discloses any of the relevant information that your employer needs to know. This information ensures that employers make smarter employment decisions.
An Enhanced DBS check is required for anyone working directly with children and vulnerable adults. An enhanced DBS check reveals spent and unspent convictions, reprimands, and warnings. For some roles, the employer may request a barred list check alongside the enhanced DBS check. Teachers, nurses, care home workers, and the like, all require an enhanced DBS check.
But what about jobs that involve less frequent contact with vulnerable groups? Are they still required to apply for a DBS check? To find out, you need to understand DBS check eligibility requirements.
People need to get an Enhanced DBS Check if they work in a regulated activity.
What Is A Regulated Activity?
Regulated activity refers to roles that involve working with children and vulnerable adults. This includes jobs such as teaching young children, or providing care in a mental facility or shelter.
Regulated activities depend on the nature of the job or location.
Depending on the job description, teaching, nursing, coaching, or caring for children may all count as regulated activities. Regulated activity status depends on the job’s location, such as care homes, schools, day care centres, etc.
Applying for jobs of this nature means that you will also need to apply for an enhanced DBS check and a Barred List check too. For example, a person who monitors toddlers in a day care centre definitely counts as carrying out a regulated activity, which requires an enhanced DBS certificate.
If you’re not sure whether your job involves a regulated activity, you can check the DBS official list for further verification.
What If Your Job Doesn’t Involve A Regulated Activity
We’ve discussed what happens when your job involves regulated activities, but what if your job does not require you to come directly in contact with vulnerable groups?
Some jobs don’t put you directly with children or vulnerable adults, but you may still work in the same location. Roles that don’t involve coming into contact with vulnerable groups in those locations include working in administrative roles, maintenance roles, or management roles.
We mentioned earlier that the working location alone might still be a cause for a DBS check. If you work in a school or administrative role, you may still require a DBS check, even if you don’t come into contact with children or vulnerable adults very often.
For part-time roles, the frequency of contact with vulnerable groups determines whether you’re required to get a check, depending on the nature of the role.
If somebody comes into contact with vulnerable groups at least once a week or 3 times a month then they need a valid enhanced DBS check. Working in that manner doesn’t count as a regulated activity if the person has supervision from somebody with a valid enhanced DBS certificate.
Contact one of our trusted advisors today to learn more about DBS checks and how to get started on your application.
