DBS safeguarding, put simply, helps to protect vulnerable adults and vulnerable children from abuse and harm in day-to-day life.
Roles in the health and social care sectors such as Teachers, Nurses and Carers or Doctors or Nurses are among the most familiar with safeguarding. It’s essential for those who are responsible for looking after those at a higher risk of abuse.
The most common form of Safeguarding is through the form of a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) Check.
Why DBS Safeguarding is Important?
If an organisation, such as a care or residential care home (for example), has a poor or no safeguarding policy in place, its irresponsibility can lead to serious consequences.
Without these policies, you’re likely to miss neglectful behaviour, or even see a rise in the number of abuse cases that happen at the organisation. Whether it be vulnerable people not being treated with compassion or empathy, to the extreme such as a complete loss of dignity for the vulnerable adults, it must be prevented. DBS safeguarding checks are vital in ensuring this sort of thing happens as infrequently as possible.
DBS Safeguarding -What Are The Six Principles of Safeguarding?
These six principles were first introduced by the Department of Health in 2011, but are now embedded in the Care Act 2014. All six apply to all health and care settings and are in place to protect vulnerable individuals.
The six principles of safeguarding are:
1. Empowerment: People being supported and encouraged to make their own decisions and informed consent
2. Prevention: It is better to act before harm occurs.
3. Proportionality: The least intrusive response appropriate to the risk presented.
4. Protection: Support and representation for those in the greatest need.
5. Partnership: Local solutions through services working with their communities. Communities have a part to play in preventing, detecting, and reporting neglect and abuse.
6. Accountability: Accountability and transparency in safeguarding practice.
DBS Safeguarding – How Checks Can Help
DBS checks play a crucial role in helping to safeguard vulnerable adults and children by eliminating potential risks in the applicant process. The most common check done to safeguard vulnerable groups will be the Enhanced DBS check with Barred List.
Enhanced DBS Check with Barred List
This DBS Certificate contains:
– Spent and Unspent Convictions.
– Final warnings.
– Reprimands from the Police National Computer (PNC).
– Any other information the local police force considers to be relevant for the position the applicant is applying for.
On top of this, there can be an additional check of the Adults and/or Children’s Barred List, which is only available for those who will be working with vulnerable groups (Children and/or Vulnerable Adults) or the positions listed in the Criminal Records regulations.
DBS Safeguarding – Adult First Checks
If you need to get your workers until positions faster (before the DBS check comes back) you can apply for a quick check on the Adults Barred List, called the DBS Adults First check.
Usually received within 48 hours, this allows the individual to start working under supervision until the full Enhanced DBS Certificate is received (if they pass the check).
To get this check, the following criteria are to be met:
1. The position the applicant is to work in requires a criminal record check by law.
2. The position is eligible to access the DBS Barred List.
3. Your organisation has requested the DBS Enhanced with Barred List check for the applicant.
To find out more about Adult First Checks to help with DBS safeguarding, we have created an article for employers. Adult First Check – What you need to know in 2023 that can guide you through Adult First Checks and how to obtain them for your staff.
DBS Safeguarding – Apply for a Check
If your business could benefit from DBS safeguarding for the vulnerable groups at your organisation, you can do so here at Aaron’s Department. We offer a fast, reliable online service backed up by our fantastic in-house experts.
To get started, and start applying for your DBS Checks in a matter of minutes, just click the big green button below to register your organisation/company!
If you have any questions, feel free to leave them below, or give our team a ring on 0113 877 0171.