If you're a volunteer under 18 years old, you may be wondering if your personal information can be shared with other volunteers during the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check process. The answer is yes, but only to a certain extent. As a young volunteer, it's important to understand the process of verifying your identity during a DBS check. A current volunteer who performs the role of identity verifier at the organization you're volunteering for will need to verify the original identity documents of the new volunteer during the disclosure process.
This is to ensure that all volunteers are of legal age and that their identity is valid. Once the IDs are verified, the resulting report is confidential. Only the volunteer who is undergoing verification, the outreach agency, and Girlguiding HQ's outreach and compliance teams will be able to see the information. If you need a DBS to volunteer on a student-led project, read our instructions on how to get a DBS check and fill out this web form.
When volunteers participate in regulated activity, identified organizations can request an improved DBS with a prohibited list check. Any volunteer who participates in an active task within the framework of this program will be able to demonstrate this by showing their identification in the Volunteer Responders application on their mobile phone.
Basic DBS checks
can be used for any position or purpose; however, certain functions may require a higher level of verification. Enhanced disclosure is only available for functions listed in the 1975 Order (Exceptions) of the Offender Rehabilitation Act 1974 and the purpose of the verification must be one of those included in Article 5A of the Police Act of 1997 (Criminal Record) Regulations 2002. NHS and Care Volunteer Responders is a volunteer service provided by NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care and offered by the Royal Voluntary Service and GoodSam.There are several types of DBS checks, and your organization or SLP will always tell you which one you need and how to get it. During the disclosure process, an existing volunteer will need to verify the identity documents of the person subject to disclosure verification. If you need a DBS to volunteer in a community organization, your supervisor can best advise you on where to obtain it. We love to hear about their experiences and are always looking for stories from students about their volunteering.
Nor can you verify the information of someone you are in a relationship with or someone who has a relationship with a member of your family. Identity checks are carried out on all volunteers and, depending on the activity they carry out, these may vary. Once a new volunteer has decided that they want to continue working as a volunteer in your unit, it's time for them to verify their information. The identity verifier will need to review all original documents such as passports, birth certificates or driving licenses before they can proceed with the DBS check process.
It's important that all documents are valid and up-to-date before they can be accepted as proof of identity. It's also important to remember that any information shared during this process is confidential and only accessible by those involved in verifying your identity. This ensures that all volunteers are legally allowed to participate in activities within their organization. Verifying your identity during a DBS check is an important part of volunteering under 18 years old. By understanding how this process works, young volunteers can ensure that they are taking part in activities safely and legally.
