DBS has created faith-specific guidance around DBS checks

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) recently worked with Strengthening Faith Institutions (SFI) and the Charity Commission to support faith organisations, by producing guidance around DBS checks and eligibility which is tailored to different faiths.

As part of producing this guidance, we spoke with members of various faith communities to understand the roles within each individual faith group, and then drafted faith-specific eligibility guidance in collaboration with SFI and the Charity Commission.

The guidance then underwent review by a number of prominent organisations within the following faiths:

• Islam
• Judaism
• Sikhism
• Christianity
• Hinduism
• Buddhism

This was a great opportunity to help improve understanding of the role that DBS plays, and how faith organisations can access information to support safer recruitment within their faith centres. SFI and the Charity Commission will remain in contact with DBS, as we continue to build effective relationships in this area, and support the faith sector with safer recruitment in mind.

We also learned a lot about these different faith groups, and the ways in which they support their communities, which helped us to understand what works for them, and how they function.

As detailed in DBS’ 2020-25 strategy, keeping people informed and increasing public understanding of the work we do at DBS is one of DBS’ strategic objectives, and this type of work is a key part of meeting this objective over the next five years.

DBS is looking forward to continuing this work in collaboration with SFI, and the wider faiths community.

The guidance can be accessed via the SFI website, and we have also produced a DBS guidance leaflet on the same subject: DBS checks for working with children in places of worship.