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DBS Checks for Healthcare Workers

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How Can You Pick the Right DBS Check for A Healthcare Worker?

Any individual working in the healthcare industry needs to have a DBS check. As these people are often in a position where they are around vulnerable children or adults and their job requires them to provide care to patients, it shouldn’t be surprising that having a DBS check is a legal requirement – and one that is highly important, too.

A DBS Check is vital for the simple reason that it is a criminal record check, disclosing anything that you might need to be aware of as an employer, such as convictions, cautions and warnings.

What type of DBS checks are necessary for certain workers?

There are a variety of roles that can be filled within the health care industry, as well as three different types of check that can be applied for – basic, standard and enhanced. Each one varies in terms of what information they look for/provide, how extensive they are and how much they cost.

While it can be difficult to determine what level of check is needed simply from the position an individual is applying for, it can often be useful to consider what level of DBS check you’re entitled to, based on factors like what setting they’ll be working in and how much contact they’ll have with vulnerable individuals.

Additionally, consider a risk assessment of the role and use this to determine how thorough the check needs to be. This can include factors like the control of access, type of contact they have with others in the workplace and the level of supervision they will be trusted with. After assessing the importance of the job, you should have a better idea of what background check would be ideal.

It is worth noting that enhanced dbs checks are generally best for more intensive job roles, especially in positions where the employee in question will be around vulnerable individuals (like hospitals, schools, care homes, etc.).

Types of healthcare workers that will need to be checked

The NHS has provided a list to help those in a position of hiring individuals to decide who they’ll need to get a DBS check for. Some of the most common roles that will require this include:

  • Admin staff
  • Dentists
  • Doctors
  • GPs
  • Medical secretaries
  • Nurses
  • On-site medical engineers
  • Porters

This isn’t by any means a definitive list, but a rough idea of the types of people who will need background checks within this industry.

What about self-employed carers?

It can often be a more complex situation for those who are self-employed, as they won’t be able to request an in-depth check on themselves to be able to provide their services. In most cases, the best they’ll be able to do on their own is get a Basic DBS check, which anyone can apply for and doesn’t have the same rules for application as standard and enhanced checks.

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