Disclosure Barring Service Provides Clarity on Guidance for DBS Checks and Eligible Positions
IntelliCentrics UK, Stockport (27th September 2019)
The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), a non-departmental public body of the Home Office of the United Kingdom, enables organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors to make safer recruitment decisions by identifying candidates who may be unsuitable for certain work, especially that involving children or vulnerable adults
There has historically been a lot of confusion over the role of a rep in the healthcare setting and to what level of check they should be checked against and the DBS has recently issued further guidance regarding eligible positions and the level of DBS checks required for various patient access.
The main reasons for the confusion are as follows:
· No clear guidance document from the DBS that truly defines the roles of a rep and a check
· Strong view from medical device suppliers and industry organisations that the basic level is fine as reps don’t come into direct physical contact with patients
· Reps do not get left alone with vulnerable or young patients in any area of the hospital
There are three levels of DBS checks that can be required: basic, standard, and enhanced. The basic check offers only flags to any unspent convictions etc. It does not show any conviction that have been spent and may be of direct concern to a hospital. The enhanced level is too onerous and is not proportionate to the level of risk a rep poses in the healthcare setting.
IntelliCentrics has always recommended the Standard check for medical device reps. The Standard check provides a proportionate level of detail into a rep’s criminal background in order for an accurate picture of the individual to be known and the risk to be properly managed by the hospital.
This latest guidance from DBS and backed by the leading industry body clarifies the position and ensures reps are no longer guessing at what level they require. This makes the process far clearer to reps and quicker for supplier companies to apply for the correct level and ensure their staff are properly adhering to hospital access policies with regards to rep visits.
This also offers clarification to hospitals who have previously had to make their own judgement on the DBS check level they require. This enhanced guidance reduces the risk to both reps and hospitals by not having an inappropriate level of check for the vital role a rep plays in the modern healthcare setting.
For more information on the Disclosure Barring Service and DBS checks visit https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/disclosure-and-barring-service/about
Contact: Robyn Thompson
P: 0161 250 7533