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Safer Recruitment and DBS

Guidance and information on managing safeguarding responsibilities for church staff and volunteers.

Safer Recruitment and People Management

The Church of England is committed to safeguarding as an integral part of its ministry and mission, promoting a safer culture and the welfare of every child, young person and adult. As such, the Church has robust policies, procedures and guidelines in place, including Safer Recruitment and People Management Code of Practice.

The Church of England’s Safer Recruitment and People Management Code of Practice is a helpful and practical guide for recruiting, appointing, supporting and managing people safely across the life of the Church. It reminds us that safer recruitment is much more than a DBS check: it is a positive way of choosing the right people, making wise decisions, and continuing to offer support and oversight once someone is in post. Used well, the Code of Practice helps build safer, more welcoming churches where children, young people, vulnerable adults, volunteers, employees, clergy and everyone who participates in church life can be valued and protected. The Diocese of Hereford’s safeguarding training webpage includes information about the training module that supports safer recruitment practice, helping parishes and church officers grow in confidence as they understand their responsibilities and apply Safer Recruitment and People Management consistently.

The Disclosure and Barring Service is a government service which provides criminal records checks, known as a DBS check.  A DBS check is record of a person’s criminal convictions and cautions and the type of information on a DBS certificate will vary depending upon the type of DBS check applied for.  More information can be found in their Quick Guide to DBS Checks leaflet.

In our diocese, DBS checks are completed online through a third-party umbrella organisation. Each benefice has Lead and Additional Recruiters who manage the DBS process across their benefice.  They will be able to help you organise DBS checks for relevant paid and volunteer workers in your parish.  If someone cannot complete the process online at home, the Diocesan Safeguarding Team will work with the Parish Safeguarding Officer or parish clergy to provide support and overcome any barriers.

Each parish must follow the Safer Recruitment and People Management Code of Practice and ensure that all relevant paid and volunteer workers have the required DBS check before they begin their role or activity with children, young people or vulnerable adults.

Together with the Confidential Declaration Form and references, a DBS certificate supports the Church in choosing the right people, making wise recruitment decisions, and helping to ensure children, young people and vulnerable adults are cared for safely.

The DBS Update Service can make future safer recruitment checks quicker and easier by allowing us to check whether anything has changed on your existing Enhanced DBS certificate, provided it is registered with the service and matches the level of check needed for your role. You can find full details on the GOV.UK DBS Update Service guidance.

If you would like us to use the DBS Update Service for your check, first please make sure you can:

  • Confirm that your certificate is registered on your DBS Update Service account.
  • Show your original Enhanced DBS certificate and original ID documents.
  • Confirm that your existing certificate is at the right level for the role.
  • Meet the criteria set out in the letter and form available below.

If you are happy that these points apply, please download and complete the Diocese of Hereford letter and consent form, then return it to your PSO, incumbent or benefice 31:8 recruiter. If you are unsure about anything, please do get in touch – we will be glad to help.

This section is under development.  If you require any further information or role description examples, please contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Administrator via email at DBSAdmin@hereford.anglican.org 

Please note that the Local Ministry role description templates can be found on the Local Ministry pages of the website.