DBS policy and procedure

1. Policy Statement

Harrow Council is committed to safeguarding the welfare of those accessing its services through the effective use of the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) disclosure vetting process for all relevant groups of employees.

As an organisation using the DBS to assess applicants’ suitability for positions of trust, the Council complies fully with the DBS Code of Practice and undertakes to treat all applicants fairly and not to discriminate unfairly against anyone on the basis of conviction or other information revealed. Having a criminal record will not necessarily prevent an individual from being employed by Harrow Council. This will depend on the nature of the role, professional suitability and the circumstances, nature and background of the offences.

The Council recognises that access to criminal record information has to a strike a balance between safeguarding the rights of children and the vulnerable in society, an individual’s right to privacy, and the rights of ex-offenders to become rehabilitated into society. It is essential that confidential and sensitive information about an individual’s criminal record is handled fairly and properly.

The Council has a separate Policy Statement on the Recruitment of Ex-Offenders.

2. Scope

This policy and procedure applies to the recruitment and engagement of employees, agency workers, self employed interims and consultants, and volunteers across the Council. It should be followed when recruiting, both internally and externally, to all posts which have been identified as providing access to children (persons under the age of 18) as users of Council services, or which provide specific services to adults which may make these adults vulnerable, or to other defined posts of trust, within the Council.

In addition, fostering and adoption arrangements, certain types of student placements, school governors, elected members and preferred contractors will also come under this Policy and Procedure in specified circumstances, particularly where their role involves unsupervised contact with children.
This Policy is strongly recommended for adoption by School Governing Bodies.