The Government is now gearing up to launch a new Update Service in the Spring which will mean that an existing certificate can be updated by DBS, and checked by employers online, precluding the need for multiple checks.
The move to DBS reflects a scaling down of what is defined as ‘regulated activity’. Under the new system regulation applies to around 5 million individuals, which is significantly less than the 9.3 million under the old regime. It now focuses on those working most closely and regularly with vulnerable groups.
The Government says the new system reflects a need to ensure that the responsibility for safeguarding is better shared between the state, on the one hand, and employers and organisations, on the other.
REGULATED ACTVITY
The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 amends the definition of ‘regulated activity’ with children to remove some supervised activities with them. This is deemed particularly important to encourage volunteers, allowing schools and other organisations to provide supervision to volunteers without checking barred status. All activities removed from the definition will still be eligible for an enhanced criminal records certificate.
The new definition of regulated activity relating to children comprises:
1. Unsupervised activities; where individuals teach, train, instruct, care for or supervise children, or provide advice/guidance on well-being, or drive a vehicle only for children.
2. Working for a limited range of establishments (‘specified places’), with opportunity for contact: for example, schools, children’s homes, childcare premises. This does not include work by supervised volunteers. (Work under 1. or 2. is regulated activity only if done regularly)
3. Providing relevant personal care, for example washing or dressing; or health care by or supervised by a professional.
4. Registered childminding and foster carers.
UPDATE SERVICE
The Update Service will allow individuals to apply for a criminal record check once and re-use that certificate for a small subscription fee (free for volunteers). Once permission has been given by the employee, an employer will be able to go online, at any time, and identify if any new information has become available since an employee’s last DBS check.
The Update Service is not mandatory. It is up to an individual whether they want to subscribe to the online service.
No criminal information will be displayed, and it will only indicate whether the certificate provided to the employer is current or if new information exists. If the service indicates that there is further information, a new disclosure should be sought.
This new system, will allow an applicant's details to be updated so they can move between employers in the same sector without the need for multiple checks. This improvement to the service will benefit employers by reducing transactions, costs and bureaucracy.
The cost of a DBS criminal record check remains unchanged from the CRB.
