Check out our updated article on DBS checks for more information.
A Disclosure and Barring Service or DBS check (also called disclosure) has no official expiry date. Any information included is accurate at the time the check was carried out. Whether or not to carry out a subsequent check is up to the practice owner/employer. Some authorities suggest a new check every 3 years.
However applicants or their employer can subscribe to the the DBS update service, which is kept up to date, has as a low annual cost of £13 per year and enables checks of the workers status to be carried out as and when required, without applying for a new CRB disclosure.
The worker must always be asked for permission before a DBS update service check is carried out.
Note: it is illegal to engage someone to work with children or vulnerable adults if they are in the DBS ‘barred list’.
In Northern Ireland people who work with children or vulnerable adults must have an enhanced CRB check through Access NI.
In Scotland individuals must join the PVG scheme.
For detailed information members can download the CODE module CRB – DBS Checks (M 228).