If someone’s role involves more than one of the activities below and the activities allow for different levels of check they can be asked to obtain the higher level of check that is available to them, the Charity Commission’s safeguarding guidance advises charity trustees to get the highest level of DBS check that a role is eligible for.
Remember: anyone can access a basic DBS check, even if they are not eligible for a higher level of check
The guidelines below are specifically for roles which undertake activities with children. While less common, some activities with adults would make a role at a faith centre eligible for Enhanced DBS check with or without adults’ Barred List check. Please see our separate guidance on eligibility when working with adults.
Charity Trustees:
- Charity trustees are eligible for an enhanced DBS check without a children’s Barred List check if the staff and volunteers within their charity include those who carry out the regulated activity with children. Instances of regulated activity in this guidance have the words “regulated activity” after them. For more information on a regulated activity,please see the DBS page.
- A charity trustee could also be eligible for the children’s Barred List check if they undertake regulated activity themselves or manage someone who does.
Teachers
(including authorised teachers (ordained or lay, roshi, nun, monk or lama etc); and other teachers/leaders within Buddhist temples, centres, retreat centres and other Buddhist places of worship)
- teaching or supervising children:
- on more than 3 days in a 30-day period – can get an enhanced DBS check with a children’s Barred List check (regulated activity)
- on 3 days or less in a 30-day period – can get an enhanced DBS check without a children’s Barred List check
- If they are supervised by someone who is in regulated activity with children – can get an enhanced DBS check without the barred list check.
- providing pastoral care, like giving advice and guidance on emotional, physical or educational wellbeing to children
- on more than 3 days in a 30-day period – can get an enhanced DBS check with a children’s Barred List check (regulated activity)
- on 3 days or less in a 30-day period – can get an enhanced DBS check without a children’s Barred List check
Teaching Support Staff:
- People whose role is limited to providing support to the teacher/s (eg by welcoming people and/or making and providing refreshments) – can get a basic DBS check
If they are assisting the teacher in the teaching process itself, they can get the same level of check as the teachers referred to above.
Volunteers & Paid Staff:
- whose role is limited to leadership, strategy, management, policy or caretaking – can get a basic DBS check
- with responsibility for day-to-day management of staff or volunteers who are eligible for an enhanced DBS check – can get the same level of check as the people the Manager is responsible for
- whose role involves teaching, check the section for teachers
Youth Workers (Volunteers & Paid Staff):
- who are responsible for teaching or supervising children on more than 3 days in a 30-day period and are not supervised by someone who is in regulated activity with children – can get an enhanced DBS check with a children’s Barred List check (regulated activity)
- who are responsible for teaching or supervising children on less than 3 days in a 30 day period, or are supervised by somebody who is in regulated activity with children – can get an enhanced DBS check without a children’s Barred List check
- who are responsible for providing advice and guidance on emotional, physical and educational wellbeing to youth groups:
- on more than 3 days in a 30-day period – can get an enhanced DBS check with a children’s Barred List check (regulated activity)
- on less than 30 days in a 30-day period, can get an enhanced DBS check without a children’s Barred List check
Overnight and Residential Stays:
Where children stay overnight, at a youth event or retreat, for example, without their parents or legal guardians present, there are activities which would allow for a DBS check.
If any individual, whether staff or volunteer, is responsible for:
- the care or supervision of children other than their own overnight between 2am and 6am, with the opportunity for face to face contact – even if this is done only once – that person can get an enhanced DBS check with a check of the children’s Barred List (regulated activity)
- teaching, training or instructing children other than their own during this time or providing them with advice and guidance on their physical, emotional or educational wellbeing between 2am and 6am – that person can also get an enhanced DBS check with a check of the children’s Barred List (regulated activity)
Overseas Checks:
If you are recruiting staff or volunteers from overseas, the Charity Commission expects trustees to carry out checks where possible. Whilst some foreign offences can occasionally appear on DBS checks, this is unlikely and DBS does not have access to criminal records in other countries. It is strongly recommended that separate overseas criminal record checks such as Certificates of Good Character or the International Child Protection Certificate (ICPC) are carried out where relevant. This is to ensure the recruiter has as much information as possible to make that safer recruitment decision.
More information can be found here: