The Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly CRB) is a government agency which processes criminal records to prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable groups such as children.
As part of Little Ones vetting procedure we request that all candidates have a valid DBS check when finding a job through Little Ones. It is a legal requirement for all individuals who wish to work with children to hold an enhanced DBS certificate, it is only nannies who are not legally required to undertake such checks unless they are Ofsted registered, although their employer can request this - as an employer of a nanny we ask that you require this of your employee.
Members of the public cannot obtain a DBS Disclosure directly, they must go through an approved organisation which is where Little Ones can help.
If a nanny, nanny housekeeper, au pair or housekeeper is unwilling to obtain a DBS this is often due to the cost of a DBS which is over £60 - in all other employments where an employee is required to undertake a DBS (such as nursery workers and teachers) the employer is responsible for paying for the DBS check. If your nanny or other childcare worker is hesitant to pay for a DBS we recommend you pay on their behalf.
DBS checks provide a full criminal record for an applicant. There are three levels of DBS checks - Standard, Enhanced and Enhanced with barred list checks. Childcare professionals will be required to obtain an Enhanced DBS check which includes spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings plus any additional information held by local police that is reasonably considered relevant to the role in which the DBS is being used.
There is no expiration date for a DBS check but the information provided will be valid up until the date it was issued. This means that an employer may ask for a nannies DBS to be renewed at anytime. In 2013 an updated service was introduced which allows DBS checks to be kept up to date and checked online without the need of a completely new check to be done.
An enhanced DBS check through a Little Ones recommended umbrella body normally costs between £60 and £70. An enhanced DBS may take up to 8 weeks to come through but timings are subject to whether the information provided is correct and what police departments are involved in the search. Once the DBS is complete, it will be sent to the applicant directly - not to Little Ones. Little Ones is not permitted, due to data protection regulations and privacy laws, to disclose a nannies DBS to a potential employer nor to send a copy of the DBS. Should a potential employer wish to see a DBS they must ask the nanny candidate directly.
Please note – there may be circumstances where the candidate is still undergoing a DBS or police check, or it is not possible for them to obtain a DBS or police check. Where that is the case, this will be made clear on the candidate's profile at the point of introduction.
To apply for a DBS check the DBS and baring service can provide detailed information. Or contact Little Ones and we will assist you with information on how to apply.
