As part of any recruitment process practices need to make sure they perform the relevant checks on members of the dental team that are going to be working for them. Part of this process is undertaking a check of the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) formerly known as Criminal Record Bureau (CRB). Depending on the role the individual is going to undertake will change the level of the check and the process is not as straightforward as might be hoped with different systems for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and Scotland.
There are three levels of DBS check in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Basic, Standard and Enhanced. With an additional check of the barred list for Enhanced checks where they are to work with Children or Vulnerable adults. For clinical staff, as they are undertaking a regulated activity, they will require an Enhanced DBS check. As they will all likely be working with children and vulnerable adults this will also require that both the barred lists are checked. For receptionists or other administrative staff as they are unlikely to be undertaking any regulated activities such as clinical treatment, they should have a standard DBS check. If they do undertake any regulated activities, then they would be eligible for an Enhanced check. Finally, cleaners in the practice who do not have access to patients would be expected to have a Basic DBS check, if they undertook other duties then they may be eligible for a higher check.
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