What Is The DBS Adults Barred List?
The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is an organisation that deals with criminal background checks in England and Wales.
As well as processing DBS Checks to reveal criminal record details of individuals, the DBS also maintains two barred lists – one that lists the details of people barred from working with children and the other for adults.
The adults barred list contains details related to individuals who are not allowed to work with vulnerable adults. It is an offence for somebody whose name is on that list to seek with vulnerable adults or for a business or organisation to knowingly hire a person who appears on the adults barred list.
How to apply for a DBS adults barred list check
A barred list check is available alongside an Enhanced DBS Check which will be processed through a business, organisation, or DBS registered third party. An individual cannot request the check themselves.
In order to qualify for an Enhanced DBS Check and adults barred list check, you need to meet certain criteria, which includes the following:
- Working as a healthcare professional with vulnerable adults.
- Providing personal care e.g. dressing, feeding, washing, etc.
- Social workers
- Providing financial assistance to vulnerable adults, e.g. shopping, paying bills, etc.
- Supporting vulnerable adults with mental health or advocating for them
- Transporting vulnerable adults to and from healthcare facilities
Some of the situations above will be classed as ‘regulated activities’ which means that the role involves direct, unsupervised contact with vulnerable adults or children on a frequent basis (more than three times over a 30 day period).
What is an Enhanced DBS Check?
An Enhanced DBS Check is the highest level of criminal background check available. It reveals any spent and unspent convictions, cautions, warnings, and reprimands, as well as any additional relevant police notes that are held on police file.
Regulated activities, such as direct care of vulnerable adults, always require an Enhanced DBS Check and barred list check.
An individual cannot submit an Enhanced DBS Check and barred list check request themself. The application needs to be verified and submitted by a business, organisation, or DBS registered third party.
If you would like to find out more about Enhanced DBS Checks and adults barred list checks, then get in touch with one of our advisors today.
