The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) has launched the latest stage of the ‘Making Recruitment Safer’ campaign. This stage of the campaign is aimed at the early years and education sector, and highlights the range of free advice and training available to organisations of all sizes. Advice and training ranges from covering DBS checks and eligibility, to the legal duty to make a barring referral, and how to make a referral.

DBS has teamed up with partner organisations in early years and education who have previously benefitted from DBS support, to help promote the campaign to other employers in the sector. Partners include Early Years Wales, PACEY – the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years, Estio Training, and EMP.

The ‘Making Recruitment Safer’ campaign initially launched in June 2022 and has previously targeted charity and faith sectors.

Eric Robinson, CEO of DBS, said:

DBS performs a vital role in helping to protect children, young people, and vulnerable adults by supporting employers to make safer recruitment decisions. We are pleased to launch our new campaign with the early years and education sector to highlight the free training and advice we can provide to organisations through our Regional Outreach service.

This service provides organisations with a single point of contact for all DBS-related queries and questions, as well as the opportunity to access tailored, DBS training for their staff and volunteers. The team also collates feedback to ensure future improvements can be made to DBS services and processes.

Find out more about the campaign on social media by searching #DBSMakingRecruitmentSafer.

More information about DBS’ Regional Outreach service can be found in our outreach guidance.

The Fellowship

The jHub is Defence’s foremost innovation hub. We want to harness the game-changing potential of emerging technology to enhance and improve the operational effectiveness of the UK armed forces. We’re seeking to independently recruit the best military talent to serve as an innovation broker on behalf of Defence and accelerate the next generation of cutting-edge military capabilities.

Who are we looking for?

We want a richly diverse group of military officers united by a passion for innovation and the application of cutting-edge technology to deliver positive impact at pace.

What can we offer?

Located in central London, the jHub has excellent links to the nation’s start-up and innovation ecosystem.

If successful, you’ll enjoy unparalleled opportunities to deliver the type of high impact projects that are only possible in Defence. You’ll be matched with a user community that is looking for your unique skill set; have access to senior decision makers; and help tackle the critical challenges facing Defence.

You’ll have the opportunity to collaborate with a peer group of exceptionally talented innovation scouts and build strong links across government and the private sector.

We’re offering each Fellow a 24-month assignment with a possibility of extending it up to 36 months; a dedicated recruitment and onboarding process; and bespoke professional development.

Fellows will work in small teams on projects that are technologically challenging, highly impactful and deliverable within a year. Take a look at the projects we are currently involved with for an idea of the scale of the challenges you could be working on.

Register your interest now

If you are currently serving in the Armed Forces you can register your interest for the UKStratCom Innovation Fellowship via internal channels.

For external candidates vacancies with the jHub can be found on Civil Service Jobs.

Total funding for policing in 2022 to 2023 is nearly £17 billion – the highest for over a decade. By April 2023 we will have invested over £3.5 billion in supporting the recruitment of 20,000 additional police officers through the Police Uplift Programme, of which 13,790 have been recruited so far.

It is therefore crucial that we deliver the best possible value for the public from this investment. This review will improve our understanding of effectiveness and productivity in policing, identifying the barriers and the most efficient operating models.

The review will also look at the scope for using new technology or streamlining processes and removing bureaucracy to drive efficiency and better outcomes.

The review will be led by Sir Stephen House, supported by an advisory board including Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary and Fire Service (HMICFRS), the chief executive of the College of Policing and Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC).  Terms of reference will published in due course, following agreement by the advisory board and Home Office.  It is expected to report within 12 months and with interim findings in spring 2023.

National Police Chiefs’ Council Chair, Martin Hewitt, said:

We want to provide the best possible policing to the public.  This review, commissioned by the Home Office and led by the NPCC, will make recommendations on how to improve effectiveness and productivity in policing, identifying the barriers and the most efficient operating models.

In the coming weeks, we will work with Sir Steve to draw together an advisory board of policing partners and external experts to shape the terms of reference and put a review team in place.

The new system will help improve the quality of rainwater entering the canal after it has fallen on the M5 carriageway.

The £7m system will help to capture debris and pollutants before the water is discharged into the water course.

National Highways Project Manager Colin Jackson said:

This new drainage system is a real boost to the local canal network that runs underneath the M5 Oldbury viaduct.

We know that the local habitat is a crucial part of the landscape at Oldbury and we’re confident this new system will play a significant role in helping biodiversity.

The drainage has a special filter installed inside the pipework which is designed to capture debris and pollutants before entering the water network which can then simply be removed by specialists at regular intervals.

The new system is made up of 10 filters and was installed underneath the road without impacting traffic using the M5 or local road network.

It took around eight months to put in place with teams using specialist equipment to dig down between the foundations under the M5 to install the new system.

General enquiries

Members of the public should contact the National Highways customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.

Media enquiries

Journalists should contact the National Highways press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.