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.
Committee Members/ Managers:
(President, Secretary, Treasurer and elected Executive Committee members):
- whose role is limited to leadership, strategy, policy or caretaking – can get a basic DBS check
- with responsibility for day-to-day management of staff or volunteers who are in regulated activity, they will also be in regulated activity and can get an enhanced DBS check with a children’s Barred List check.
- whose role involves teaching, check the section for teachers
Pundit/Pujari:
- only leading prayer sessions – can get a basic DBS check
- teaching children – check the information for teachers below
- providing pastoral care, like giving advice and guidance on emotional, physical or educational wellbeing:
- 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
Adult Leisure Activity Leaders:
(including yoga classes, music classes, cultural classes and Rass Garba)
- Can be asked for a basic check as the role of professional singers on stage does not allow for a higher level of check.
Teachers
(Including teachers of Gujarati, Sanskrit, music classes and supplementary GCSE classes):
- teaching any subject:
- 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 3 days in a 30-day period – can get an enhanced DBS check without a children’s Barred List check
Building Manager:
- whose work is limited to cleaning, locking up or building maintenance – can get a basic DBS check.
- whose work involved other duties listed on this page, check the relevant role.
Kitchen Staff:
- whose role is only to cook and serve food – can get a basic DBS check
- who is also responsible for supervising children during break or mealtimes:
- 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
- The kitchen secretary/lead overseeing the Langar and the provisions secretary would also only be able to get a basic DBS check unless they undertake supervision of children as mentioned above
Youth Activity Workers (volunteers and 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
Other Volunteers:
Whether a volunteer would be eligible for a DBS check would depend on the activities they undertake in their role. Please look at the role which relates to the duties they are responsible for.
Overnight and residential stays:
Where children stay overnight, at a youth camp or religious festival 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: