DBS Checks For Holistic Carers
A question we get asked often is whether DBS checks are necessary for people that work in holistic care.
When it comes to medical care the answer is more clear-cut, as there are plenty of guidelines and criteria covering those workers out there in the public domain.
For holistic carers, however, there is not so much information. In order to decide whether DBS checks are appropriate or not for carers, general safeguarding guidelines need to be applied, such as NHS policies and procedures.
In this guide, we’ll look at how we can apply safeguarding principles to holistic care, including what level of DBS check is appropriate.
What Is Holistic Care?
Holistic care involves taking care of the whole person’s health, including the body, mind, and soul. This is in contrast to just looking to address physical problems and symptoms. In other words, holistic care is considered with emotional and spiritual ailments too.
In holistic care, the word ‘health’ refers to the entire person’s wellbeing and ‘care’ refers to looking after each part of the person and integrating them using a variety of methods.
Some example of holistic care practices include:
- Yoga
- Meditation
- Acupuncture
- Qigong
- Energy healing
- Hypnotherapy
- Guided meditation
- Massage therapy
- Reiki
- Holistic diets
When Are DBS Checks Required for Holistic Carers?
Basic or standard DBS checks are required for jobs that involve a degree of responsibility or supervised or infrequent contact with children or vulnerable adults. Enhanced DBS checks are required for jobs that involve frequent and unsupervised contact with children or vulnerable adults.
The DBS states that individuals that care for adults or children directly and without supervision should qualify for an enhanced DBS check with barred list check. This definition will often apply to a holistic carer as they will often be giving hands-on personal care and treatments to clients.
However, it is not that simple, as some holistic carers will be hands-on or work unsupervised, while others won’t.
For instance, a massage therapist will need an enhanced DBS check but a yoga instructor probably will not.
If an enhanced or standard DBS check is needed, then this will need to be applied for through a registered body as the individual cannot apply for it alone, as verification is required. If the role only needs a basic DBS check, then the holistic carer can submit the application by themselves.
Summary
The decision of whether a holistic carer needs a DBS check depends on the nature of the work they do.
The role of a holistic carer varies from hands-on private therapy to group-based instruction. Unlike healthcare professionals in the NHS, there are no official policies or procedures in place, but general safeguarding principles and guidelines should be followed.
If you want to find out more about DBS checks, including how to apply online through our service, contact us today.
