Do Homes For Ukraine Sponsors Require For DBS Checks?
Everyone was utterly shocked by the invasion of Ukraine. We have heard countless stories about people losing their lives and fleeing the country so quickly that it is no longer safe in their homes.
Governments of different nations have taken swift actions to accommodate the incoming refugees, and here in the United Kingdom, the response was the launch of the Homes For Ukraine scheme.
The Home for Ukraine scheme allows individuals, charities, shelters, and community groups to offer their homes to Ukrainians desperately leaving the war in their country, regardless of their ties to the country. Before this scheme was launched, only Ukrainians with family members already settled in the UK were allowed in.
British citizens already ready to show support to the Ukrainians fleeing the war, the scheme has been an enormous success and gotten a pretty massive start. But for the scheme to be effective, some precautions must be taken. DBS checks for individuals, shelter workers, and community groups are vital. Ensuring people that are going to shelter the Ukrainians have a clean criminal record is extremely important.
What Level of DBS Checks Will Be Required
There are three levels of DBS checks, each with its level of intensive information required. But for this scheme, only two levels are implemented, and only the Basic and Enhanced.
Basic DBS Checks: A basic DBS check reveals all unspent convictions and cautions. Spent convictions and reprimands are omitted from the DBS certificate. Refugees must be older than 16 years of age.
Enhanced DBS Checks: An Enhanced DBS check is quite the opposite of a Basic DBS check. An enhanced DBS check is required in homes that provide care to children and vulnerable adults because a comprehensive check is done of the applicant’s criminal record. This includes spent and unspent convictions, warnings, reprimands, and even a Barred List check.
Anyone sheltering a Ukrainian family with a child or an adult requiring additional support is subject to an enhanced DBS check.
How The DBS Will Protect Ukrainian Refugees
The UK announced the Home for Ukraine scheme on March 18th, 2022. Individuals wanting to join the scheme will have to undergo a DBS check, ensuring that everyone who partakes in the scheme is vetted and has a clean criminal record. Further protecting the Ukrainian refugees incoming.
The Disclosure and Barring Service has already been integrated with the scheme, ensuring a fast and efficient check for everyone.
Who Pays For The DBS Check
Now that we’re all briefed on all the relevant information, who pays for the DBS checks? DBS checks are always completed for individuals who want to move into a job role, so the employer or individual can pay for the checks.
But in this case, their local councils pay the DBS fees to improve further the number of people willing to shelter refugees.
If you want to join the scheme, you should contact the local authority, who will guide you through the application process.
If you are part of a local authority, Contact our trusted advisors today to learn more about DBS checks and have our experienced team assist with improving the help you can provide.
