Do First Aiders need a DBS check?

Do First Aiders Need a DBS Check? 

First aiders play an essential role in ensuring safety in workplaces, schools, and public events. They provide immediate direct care in emergencies, offering basic medical care or stabilising individuals until professional NHS medical help arrives. First aiders are often the first point of support during accidents or emergency incidents. However, do first aiders need a DBS check? We’ll explore the relationship between first aid roles and DBS checks to understand if they are required and the circumstances that determine eligibility. 

 Understanding DBS Checks 

A DBS check (Disclosure and Barring Service check) is a process used in the UK to review an individual’s criminal record, ensuring their suitability for certain roles. There are three main types of DBS checks: 

• Basic DBS Check: Shows unspent convictions or conditional cautions. 
• Standard DBS Check: Includes spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and warnings. 
• Enhanced DBS Check: Provides the most detailed criminal record information and can include checks of the barred list—a record of individuals barred from working with children or vulnerable adults. 

Do First Aiders Need a DBS Check? 

Whether first aiders need a DBS check depends on the context of their role, their work environment, and whether their activities fall under the definition of regulated activity. Here are some key considerations: 

1. First Aid in the Workplace 

In most workplaces, first aiders are not required to have a DBS check. Their responsibilities—providing immediate assistance with a first aid kit, administering basic care, and calling emergency services—do not typically involve regular or unsupervised contact with children or vulnerable adults. As such, these activities usually do not meet the threshold for a DBS check, whether standard or enhanced. 

However, if the workplace involves working with children or vulnerable adults (e.g., a school or care home), a DBS check may be necessary depending on the specific nature of the role. 

2. Volunteering as a First Aider 

Organisations like St John Ambulance often recruit volunteers for events, schools, or public gatherings. These roles may involve some level of contact with children or vulnerable adults. If this contact is frequent, unsupervised, or falls under regulated activity, the individual may be eligible for an enhanced DBS check. Each case is assessed individually, and the organisation should use the DBS eligibility tool to determine whether a check is required. 

3. First Aid in Schools or with Children 

First aiders working in schools or other settings where they frequently interact with children are more likely to require a DBS check. This is particularly true if their role involves unsupervised contact with children or they are regularly placed in a position of trust. In such cases, an enhanced DBS check with a barred list check may be required. 

For example: 

• A school employee responsible for first aid training for children would likely need an enhanced DBS check. 
• A volunteer assisting in after-school activities where first aid might be necessary could also require the same level of check. 

4. NHS First Aiders 

For those wondering, “Do first aiders need a DBS check in the NHS?”, the answer depends on the role. In most cases, first aid is part of broader responsibilities, such as healthcare provision, which often involves regulated activity. As a result, NHS first aiders are usually subject to an enhanced DBS check, particularly if their role includes working with vulnerable adults or children. 

 

What is Regulated Activity, and Does It Apply to First Aiders? 

Regulated activity refers to specific roles or tasks that involve a high level of responsibility for children or vulnerable adults. It includes unsupervised teaching, caring, or providing personal assistance. 

While providing first aid training could fall under regulated activity if conducted with children, the role of a workplace first aider typically does not. If first aid responsibilities expand to regular, unsupervised care of vulnerable individuals, the role may then require an enhanced DBS check. 

Scenarios Where DBS Checks Are Likely Required for First Aiders 

• Volunteering with St John Ambulance: A volunteer regularly providing first aid at schools or youth events may need an enhanced DBS check, especially if unsupervised. 
• First Aiders in Schools: First aiders in schools, particularly those directly responsible for children, may require an enhanced DBS check to ensure suitability for the role. 
• First Aid Trainers: Individuals providing first aid training to children or vulnerable adults may be subject to an enhanced DBS check if they have unsupervised contact as part of their duties. 
• NHS Roles: First aiders in the NHS are likely working in healthcare roles involving regulated activity and will almost always need an enhanced DBS check. 

When a DBS Check May Not Be Necessary 

A DBS check may not be needed for: 

• Workplace first aiders in environments where their role is limited to emergency care for colleagues or the public, without frequent or unsupervised contact with vulnerable individuals. 
• Casual first aiders volunteering at public events where no specific interaction with children or vulnerable adults occurs. 

How to Determine Eligibility for a DBS Check 

Organisations can use the DBS eligibility tool to assess whether a DBS check is required for first aiders in specific roles. The tool considers factors such as: 

• The age group involved (e.g., under 18s or vulnerable adults). 
• The frequency and context of contact. 
• Whether the role involves regulated activity. 

Employers and volunteer organisations must make case-by-case decisions, ensuring compliance with safeguarding regulations. 

First Aid and Safeguarding 

While first aiders are not always required to undergo a DBS check, their role aligns closely with safeguarding vulnerable individuals. When asking the question, ‘Do First Aiders need a DBS check?’, it’s important to fully appreciate who the first aider might be giving first aid to.

First aiders must remain vigilant about potential safeguarding concerns, particularly in environments where children or vulnerable adults are present. Training in safeguarding principles is often included in first aid training, ensuring first aiders understand their responsibilities beyond immediate medical care. 

Do First Aiders Need a DBS Check? 

The need for a DBS check for first aiders depends on the specific context and responsibilities of the role. Key points include: 

• First aiders in general workplaces usually do not require a DBS check. 
• First aiders in schools, with children, or in regulated activity roles may require an enhanced DBS check with a barred list review. 
• Volunteering roles, such as those with St John Ambulance, may necessitate a DBS check depending on the nature of the activities. 

Employers and organisations must carefully assess the role’s requirements using tools like the DBS eligibility tool to ensure compliance and safeguard vulnerable individuals. By balancing the need for safety and practicality, first aiders can continue to provide vital support while adhering to legal and safeguarding standards.