What is DBS?
The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is a service for employers to help them make safer recruitment decisions by allowing them to be fully informed about an applicant’s criminal past, and allows access to relevant non-criminal history, including allegations and investigations. The organisation processes and dispenses DBS checks for England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
The DBS is responsible for the upkeep of both the Adults’ and Children’s Barred Lists. These are databases of people who have been banned from working with children or adults (two separate lists) in the past. They make calculated decisions on whether an individual should be added to either or both of these lists, which would prohibit them from participating in regulated activity with people of the respective age groups.
Some of you may remember Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) or Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) checks, which were similar in concept. The DBS was formed via the merger of the CRB and the ISA in 2012. CRB checks are now called DBS checks, but to all intents and purposes, they are the same thing.
Do I need one?
Most of our customers have opted into DBS. We can only book locums to work for these customers if they have a DBS certificate that is signed up to the Update Service. If a locum doesn’t get a DBS certificate we can only book them for the customers that haven’t opted into DBS. We strongly recommend that you get a DBS certificate if you want to work as a locum pharmacist in England or Wales, or a PVG certificate for work in Scotland (see below).
So, in short, you don’t necessarily need a DBS or PVG certificate to work as a locum pharmacist, but you will be severely limiting your options if you don’t have one. Don’t forget – pharmacy roles that require no DBS certificate are rare, and they will also be open to applicants who do have one, so there’s no advantage in not having one.
Do DBS certificates have an expiry date?
No, DBS certificates do not have an expiry date. The information on a DBS certificate is only accurate up to the date the certificate was issued. Employers may request new DBS checks at their discretion to ensure their records are up to date.
How do I get a DBS certificate?
Individuals cannot get a DBS certificate by themselves. An “employer” needs to apply for one on their behalf from DBS or an umbrella company. Pharmaseekers uses the umbrella company Due Diligence Checking Ltd (DDC) for DBS applications. DDC is a specialist in pre-employment screening, offering comprehensive and high-quality DBS and pre-employment checks to assist organisations in making safe employment decisions.
What kind of DBS do I need?
There are four types of DBS check available: Basic, Standard, Enhanced and Enhanced with Barred List(s). “Basic” is for unspent criminal convictions and cautions. “Standard” lists all past convictions, whether spent or unspent, as well as all police cautions, reprimands and warnings.
The level of check that is required for pharmacists is “Enhanced” and the position applied for should state “Child & Adult Workforce Pharmacist”.
An Enhanced DBS check is designed for individuals in roles that involve working with children or adults requiring healthcare or personal care services. The certificate includes the same details found in a standard check, but additionally, if the position qualifies, an employer can request to check the DBS Barred Lists.
The final level is “Enhanced with Barred List(s)”. This simply means that one or both barred lists are included in the check automatically, i.e., they don’t need to be specifically requested. This is applicable in a small number of specific circumstances, but would not generally apply to locum pharmacy work.
Scotland: the PVG Scheme
If you live & work in Scotland you will need a Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme (PVG) enhanced check to be done. PVG is specific to Scotland and is a membership scheme managed by Disclosure Scotland for individuals who are doing regulated work with children or protected adults.
PVG Scheme members are continuously monitored for new criminal offences, and their membership records are automatically updated if new information arises, meaning it’s a more real-time system compared to DBS checks.
You can apply for one with Due Diligence Checking Ltd in the same way as DBS described above.
How to apply?
If you would like us to apply for DBS on your behalf, please register with us and request a DBS check during the registration.
If you are already registered with us, click on the grey banner on your online diary and press the “Submit your request” button for an application form to be posted to you. We require some form of commitment from you before we will apply on your behalf so you will need to provide contact details of your referees, upload your documents & complete your Locum ID check.
The Update Service
YOU MUST REGISTER FOR THE UPDATE SERVICE TO WORK AS A LOCUM WITHIN 30 DAYS. You can do this with your application reference whilst your application is going through or with your Certificate Number once your DBS has been issued.
You must do this within 30 days of the date of issue. If you don’t register within this time you won’t be able to. The beauty of this is that if you renew your subscription every year you will only pay £13 per year and will never have to pay the £65 charge for the certificate again. This will keep your certificate up to date and you will be able to take it with you from role to role. To register go to this website, click here.
Annual Renewal of the Update Service
It’s an annual subscription to The Update Service. Automatic renewal isn’t always successful so don't rely on it. Set yourself a reminder a month before it expires and log on to pay the renewal subscription. Go to this site for more information & there is a helpline if you forget your Update Service ID – Tel 03000 200 190
If you already have a DBS certificate
If you have obtained a DBS certificate from another organisation and want to let us know, please email us a photo of the DBS certificate and let us know when you are available for a quick video call for us to view it.