What Is The DBS Check Adult Workforce?
To get a criminal background check in the UK, you need to apply for a DBS Check. The DBS Check application has different sections to fill in asking for a variety of personal details and information. One part of the DBS Check application form asks for the employer to specify what the workforce type is. The options for workforces are child workforce, adult workforce, and other workforce.
The employer must fill in the workforce type section when the employee or job applicant is required to get an Enhanced or Standard DBS Check.
In the case of job roles that require the applicant to work directly with vulnerable adults, the employer should choose the “adult workforce” option on the form. In some cases, the job role may involve working with both vulnerable adults and children, in which case the employer would select both adult workforce and child workforce. If neither apply, but the applicant still needs to get a higher level DBS Check for a different reason, the employer will select “other workforce”.
How to decide whether a job role qualifies as adult workforce
The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) makes it clear that the adult workforce option applies to roles that are classed as a ‘regulated activity’ with vulnerable adults.
A regulated activity with vulnerable adults is one that involves frequent, unsupervised contact with vulnerable adults. It may also include applicants who are to work in roles under supervision that would otherwise be classed as regulated activities. Any regulated activity with vulnerable adults must be selected as adult workforce on the DBS Check application form.
The DBS specifies some of the roles that may fall within the category of adult workforce, such as adult care workers, hospital staff, adult disability workers, and nursing home staff. Other roles such as providing personal care to vulnerable adults in their own home may also be considered as adult workforce roles.
Adult workforce legislation and regulation
The legislation covering adult workforces includes the following:
The Police Act 1997
The Care Standards Act 2000
The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2000
The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974
To decide whether a job role or voluntary position is defined as a regulated activity, the following questions need to be considered:
Does the role involve:
- The provision of personal care?
- Social work?
- Assistance with or management of personal finances, bill paying, or shopping?
- Assistance with other personal matters?
- Transporting vulnerable adults to and from social or health care?
If the answer is yes to any of those questions, then it is likely that the role is a regulated activity with adults and the adult workforce option should be selected on the DBS Check application form.
There are other specific roles that may qualify for the adult workforce option and are listed within the legislation documents above. Here are some examples of roles considered to fall under the adult workforce: Teachers, instructors, coaches, mentors, care providers, or supervisors of adults in the following locations:
- Accomodation or care facilities for expectant mothers
- Residential further education colleges or universities
- Sheltered housing establishments
- Prisons or remand centers
- Secure residential training centers
- Nursing care facilities
- Anywhere else that provides care or supervision to adults due to old age, ill health, or disability.
Additionally, the following roles may be classed as adult workforce due to regulatory requirements:
- Managers or hosts of websites for vulnerable adults
- Advocacy service providers for vulnerable adults
- People who transport vulnerable adults on a frequent basis
- Inspectors of care facilities for vulnerable adults
- Auxiliary staff within limited range of establishments for vulnerable adults
- Prison and probation workers.
If any of the above roles apply to you or your employees, then you need to select the adult workforce type on the DBS Check application form. If you have any questions about the information provided above, then contact one of our advisors today.
