Organizations may require basic DBS checks for any position or purpose, but certain functions may necessitate a higher level of verification. Under the new DBS rules, the fingerprints of most refugees and asylum seekers are likely to be re-fingerprinted in order to determine if they are suitable for the role they are applying for. If someone volunteers only occasionally, such as once a quarter or for a one-off event at a hospital or similar, a DBS check may not be necessary. There is also legislation in place that states that screening requirements depend on how often and how long a person volunteers.
For example, a volunteer who meets with someone with learning difficulties once a week could be examined at a higher level, while an administrative volunteer from the same organization with access to their personal history would not. The functions that may be subject to standard disclosure (i.e., included in the order of exceptions of the Offender Rehabilitation Act) are set out in the DBS eligibility guide published by the Government. This means that the regularity with which the activity is carried out is no longer important to improve disclosure without checking the prohibited list(s). The DBS Code of Practice states that disclosures should not be kept for more than six months, except in exceptional circumstances. DBS does not ask for a complete address history, but it does want to know where you have been living for the past 5 years. There are significant differences between old CRB checks and new DBS checks, but as a general rule, most positions where CRB verification was previously required will continue to be eligible to be verified by DBS.
If you are still not sure, ask the organization you are volunteering for what level of verification is required. If there is any confusion as to whether a position falls within the definition of a volunteer or not, DBS will be able to advise you. If a person works as a volunteer overnight, once a week or more, or 4 or more times in a 30-day period, an enhanced DBS test should be performed. Organizations need to consider whether conducting DBS checks on volunteers is necessary depending on their role and frequency of volunteering. It is important to understand what level of verification is required in accordance with relevant legislation and whether the position meets these requirements.
If someone volunteers only occasionally, such as once a quarter or for a one-off event at a hospital or similar, then it may not be necessary to conduct DBS checks. However, if someone works as a volunteer overnight, once a week or more, or 4 or more times in a 30-day period, then an enhanced DBS test should be performed.
