News and Updates
Great News!
Barnardo's has now launched its online DBS checking service, a faster, safer process for undertaking criminal records checks on staff and volunteers in England and Wales.
Changes to identity checking guidelines
The DBS have made changes to some of the list of acceptable ID that can be used to verify an individual’s Identity. From the 1st July Adoption Certificates are to be treated the same as an original birth certificate, and an EU driving licence is to be treated the same as a UK driving licence. Therefore both documents will now become Group 1 ID documents.
Legal Definition of ‘work with children’
Changes were made recently to existing legislation to provide a legal definition of ‘work with children’ These changes consolidate the existing prescribed purposes (a role or activity set out in Police Act regulations which provides eligibility for Enhanced criminal records checks to be submitted) relating to working with children, and bring them together into a single prescribed purpose called ‘work with children’. This allows for Enhanced criminal records checks to be made.
It gives more clarity – for example it includes a reference to special guardians, who although previously eligible for enhanced criminal record checks courtesy of the role, had not been previously named. As with a prospective adopter, this would also include any persons aged 18 or over living in the same household as the special guardian.
Further information can be found on the DBS website.