DBS Checks for NHS

DBS Checks for NHS 

The NHS is one of the UK’s largest employers, ensuring that trained medical professionals are ready to support people through ill health and life events with targeted and caring healthcare. 

As an employer, the NHS offers a huge number of roles, from consultants to newly trained nursing staff. While roles and responsibilities may vary greatly, safeguarding and patient care is universal across the service, from maternity suites to palliative care.  

It is likely that a public facing medical role within the NHS will require an Enhanced DBS check, with some roles also requiring a Barred List check for children or vulnerable adults. This will also be essential for healthcare roles that require Regulated Activity.  

Which DBS check do you require for the NHS? 

The three levels of DBS check are relevant to specific hospital staff, with most medical roles requiring an Enhanced DBS Check.  

Types of DBS Check 

• Basic DBS Check – Shows applicant’s unspent convictions, if any. 
• Standard DBS Check – Shows applicant’s spent or unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and/ or final warnings, if any. 
• Enhanced DBS Check – As with the Standard DBS check, along with any information held by the applicant’s local police force. If eligible, it will also include an Adults’ or Children’s Barred List.   

Basic DBS Checks are most likely to be required by support workers that do not have direct access to patients. 

Standard DBS checks would be required by NHS staff with access to patient wards, but that do not require Regulated Activity.   

Enhanced DBS Checks are required for medical professionals that engage in any regulated activity, such as health care and social care. Professionals working with vulnerable adults and children are also eligible for a Barred List Check. 

NHS Professionals – apply for an online Enhanced DBS Check with MyVetting.com. 

DBS Checks for Nurses 

All nursing staff across the NHS staff will need to undertake a DBS check as part of the pre-employment vetting for the role. Formerly known as a CRB check, the DBS is a legal requirement for any medical professionals wish to practise as a nurse. A nursing DBS is statutory for anyone wishing to enter nursing and is a legal requirement under the 1974 Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. 

Nursing teams across all specialisms, wards and clinics work closely with vulnerable group. Because of their access to vulnerable roles, nurses must undergo the highest level of DBS check – the Enhanced DBS check with barring lists. 

Vulnerable groups include vulnerable adults and children and young people.  

Nursing Enhanced DBS checks search for unspent or spent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings. An Enhanced DBS will also highlight any non-conviction information held by local UK police forces and any entries on the Adults or Children’s Barred List will be flagged.   

An Enhanced DBS check in the UK can only be requested by your nursing employer. Once completed, you will receive your DBS Certificate which you must then share with your employer. 

DBS Checks for Physiotherapists 

Physiotherapists would very closely with the members of the public and so require a DBS check, whether working out of a clinic or an NHS hospital.

For practicing physiotherapists, a DBS is a statutory requirement to meet the legal obligations of the 1974 Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.

In the course of their daily work, Physiotherapists will be required to work with vulnerable members of society that may include vulnerable people like children and young people. Because of their potential proximity to vulnerable groups, Physiotherapists must undertake an Enhanced DBS check with barring lists.

Vulnerable groups include vulnerable adults and children and young people.

An Enhanced Physiotherapist DBS check for searches for any unspent or spent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings. The Enhanced DBS will also identify any non-conviction information held by local UK police forces. Entries on the Adults or Children’s Barred List will be flagged.

An Enhanced DBS check with Barring lists can only be requested by your employer in the UK. Once completed, you will receive your DBS Certificate which you must then share with your employer.

DBS Checks for Midwives 

Medical professionals specialising in midwifery will be required to undergo a DBS check before starting work as a midwife.  

A DBS for a midwife is statutory for anyone wishing to enter midwifery and is a legal requirement under the 1974 Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. 

As midwives work closely with a vulnerable group by the nature of their role, midwives are subject to the highest level of DBS check – the Enhanced DBS check with barring lists. 

Vulnerable groups include vulnerable adults and children and young people.  

An Enhanced DBS check for a midwife searches for any unspent or spent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings. The Enhanced DBS will also highlight any non-conviction information held by local UK police forces. Entries on the Adults or Children’s Barred List will also be flagged.   

A Midwife Enhanced DBS check in the UK can only be requested by your employer. Once completed, you will receive your DBS Certificate which you must then share with your employer. 

DBS Checks for Doctors 

Doctors and newly qualified doctors seeking employment as a doctor in the UK will require a DBS check. Formerly known as a CRB check, a DBS check is also required for medical students that are bringing foundation training.    

 Your employer will request a DBS check to be carried out before your employment or placement starts. As a doctor, you will be required to undertake an Enhanced DBS check that details spent convictions and unspent convictions, cautions and warnings on police records. 

Doctors in the UK are eligible for an Enhanced DBS check. The Enhanced DBS check is the highest level of DBS check and is statutory for all medical doctors.  It highly likely that you will also require an Adult’s and Children’s Barred Lists 

The Enhanced DBS will also highlight any non-conviction information held by local UK police forces. Entries on the Adults or Children’s Barred List will also be flagged.   

Employers will request the DBS check, with a DBS check certificate issued to you, the applicant, which you must then share with your employer.  

As a medical professional, your employer has a legal requirement to safeguard the member of the public that come into contact with doctors and medical staff. It is statutory that they check the criminal record history of professionals preparing to work with children or adults in specific situations. 

Do I need a different DBS check for all roles? 

For junior NHS doctors in training and who are working on a rotation, the NHS states that  

“Doctors on educationally approved rotational training are regarded as being in continuous employment during the term of training and are therefore required to have a criminal record check, as a minimum, once every three years, rather than each time they change rotation.” 

DBS Checks for Consultants 

Working as an NHS consultant means that you will have both a position of influence within a healthcare setting and direct access to patients. For medical professionals that are either already medical consultants or moving from a junior doctor role to that of a consultant, you will be required to undergo a DBS check with the Disclosure and Barring Service to work in the UK. This is a legal requirement of working in the role and a DBS check is required to satisfy the legal requirement set out in the 1974 Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.   

Formerly known as CRB check, the DBS for Consultants has been stipulated because of opportunity of direct working with to patients.  

Consultant doctors and specialists in the UK are eligible for an Enhanced DBS check with barred lists, which means both the Adult’s and Children’s Barred Lists. The Enhanced DBS check includes the most stringent level of check and is statutory for all consultant doctors and specialists.   

An Enhanced DBS check for a consultant or specialist will search any unspent or spent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings. The Enhanced DBS will also highlight any non-conviction information held by local UK police forces. Entries on the Adults or Children’s Barred List will also be flagged.   

An Enhanced DBS check for a consultant or specialist in the UK can only be requested by your employer. 

DBS Checks for Surgeons 

For surgeons that wish to work in the UK, you will have to undergo a DBS check with the Disclosure and Barring Service. A legal requirement, a DBS check is required to satisfy the legal requirement set out in the 1974 Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.   

Formerly known as CRB check, the DBS for Surgeons is required because of their public-facing role and their proximity to patients.  

Surgeons in the UK are eligible for an Enhanced DBS check with barred lists, which means both the Adult’s and Children’s Barred Lists. The Enhanced DBS check includes the most stringent level of check and is statutory for all surgeons.   

Surgeons have unsupervised and direct contact with the public and hold a position of influence within a healthcare setting. These factors combine to determine that surgeons require Enhanced DBS checks to ensure that patients are correctly safeguarded.   

An Enhanced DBS check for a surgeon will search for any unspent or spent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings. The Enhanced DBS will also highlight any non-conviction information held by local UK police forces. Entries on the Adults or Children’s Barred List will also be flagged.   

An Enhanced DBS check for an NHS or private surgeon in the UK can only be requested by your employer.  

DBS Checks for Mental Health Professionals 

Mental Health Professionals, including Mental Health Nurses and psychotherapists, will require an Enhanced DBS check. Mental health care roles may operate within a hospital or clinic setting or they may connect with their patients remotely. 

For all mental health professionals, they will require an Enhanced DBS check. For mental health professionals working with vulnerable adults, young people and children, they will also require a Children’s Barred List check to work. Both these checks are required even if the mental health professional is treating or counselling by video or telephone.    

Online DBS Checks for NHS Medical Staff 

How long do DBS checks take? 

Applying for DBS checks for NHS employees is quick and simple.  

Register in seconds and send check alerts directly to your employees. They’ll be alerted instantly and can begin the check process straight away. Don’t worry – if they’re busy and forget to start their check, we’ll send them a text reminder after 24 and 48 hours.  

When your employees upload their proof of identity, their reports will be returned within 5-10 days for Standard and Enhanced DBS checks and in 48 hours for Basic DBS checks.