DBS ADULT FIRST CHECK

The Care Standards Act established a provision for the Department of Health to provide and maintain a list of people whom it bars from working with vulnerable adults. Those employing people to posts that involve working with vulnerable adults may be able to request a check of the Vulnerable Adults’ Barred list.

DBS Adult First is a service exclusive to the health sector. Requests for DBS Adult First checks carry a strict criteria and are permissible only where it is necessary to take such action because of a real danger that staffing levels will fall below statutory obligations.

The CRB’s reply to a DBS Adult First check request will contain one of the following responses and clearly state that it only forms the first part of the CRB application process and that further information will follow.

A request for a DBS Adult First can only be made when submitted with an Enhanced DBS application form.

OPTION 1: ‘Registered Body must wait for the CRB certificate’

OPTION 2: ‘No match exists for this person on the current Vulnerable Adults Barred list’