The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) merged on 1st December 2012 to form the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) provides criminal records checks to help organisations make safer recruitment decisions particularly for roles within client organisations working with vulnerable groups such as Care and Education.
The ISA worked purely on ensuring that people who were barred from working with these groups kept their records up to date and relevant for the CRB to access in conjunction with a criminal record check.
What Does the DBS Do?
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Process Requests for Disclosures
The DBS search police records and, in relevant cases, barred list information, and then issue a DBS certificate to the applicant and employer to help them make an informed recruitment decision.
As information released on DBS certificates can be extremely sensitive and personal, a code of practice for recipients of DBS certificates has been developed to ensure that any information they contain is handled fairly and used properly.
Review Referrals
Referrals are made to the DBS when an employer or organisation has concerns that a person has caused harm, or poses a future risk of harm to vulnerable groups, including children. In these circumstances the employer must make a referral to the DBS, though this is not obligatory for regulatory bodies.
Make Barring Decisions
The DBS make fair, consistent and thorough barring decisions that are an appropriate response to the harm that has occurred, as well as the risk of harm posed. We are keenly aware of the impact barring or not barring can have both to the person under consideration and also those with whom they have or could have come into contact. Often very difficult and finely balanced decisions have to be made.