The Disclosure Service from Homecare Association enables home care providers and other organisations to complete Disclosure and Barring checks (DBS checks) on their staff.

DBS checks enable employers to make decisions about the suitability of their workers to provide services to children or vulnerable adults and is a legal requirement in England and Wales.

Our service is available to Homecare Association members and non-member organisations and we are a registered Umbrella Body with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Enabling businesses and organisations throughout England and Wales to access criminal records data.

The service is designed to help you comply with statutory regulation and to help make safer recruitment decisions.

The Disclosure Service Team was formed in 2002, and has a vast experience in dealing with Disclosure Applications. We provide a professional, cost effective and efficient Disclosure checking service and are always on hand to provide any assistance you may require.

We aim to provide you with as much help and guidance we can in order to assist with the Disclosure Application process. Please use the relevant links available to view and download any information you require.

For more information about using our service, please contact our dedicated Disclosure Team on 020 8661 8188 (option 3) or email us with your full name, address and contact telephone number at: disclosure@Homecare Association.co.uk.

Further information is available from the Disclosure Service homepage on this website.

When you are ready you can request access to the Disclosure Service from Homecare Association and we will get back to you.

The Code of Practice for Disclosure and Barring Service Registered Persons must be adhered to if you wish to make Disclosure and Barring applications as a registered person.

In addition, as a registered person you must create and adhere to your own policy documents. We have provided some samples which you can download and modify for your organisation:

• DBS code of practice - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• Handling disclosure information from the DBS
• Policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders

Employees who are eligible for Enhanced Disclosures may also request Barred list checks if applicable. There are 3 categories of Barred list checks and these are dependent on the workforce they are employed to work with. Adult workforce - For employees working in regulated activity with vulnerable adults, Child workforce - For employees working in regulated activity with children, Adult and child workforce - For employees working in regulated activity with vulnerable adults and children. Please note that incidental contact with children during an employees regulated activity with vulnerable adults does not constitute regulated activity with children and they are not eligible for a childrens workforce barred list check. For more information on regulated activity with vulnerable adults please go to https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/216900/Regulated-Activity-Adults-Dec-2012.pdf

For more information on regulated activity with children please go to https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/550197/Regulated_activity_in_relation_to_children.pdf

Employers must adopt robust procedures for checking the applicants identity documents when applying for a disclosure. You must see the original documents and be satisfied that the correct procedure has been followed and you have seen sufficient documents to make the disclosure application. For a comprehensive guide on checking identity documents please go to

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-identity-checking-guidelines/id-checking-guidelines-for-dbs-check-applications

People employed as care and support workers who provide personal care to vulnerable groups are eligible for an Enhanced Disclosure check and can request barred list checks that are relevant to the vulnerable groups they work with.

Other employees may be entitled to Standard or Enhanced checks but employers need to confirm their eligibility for such checks before submitting a Disclosure application.

If you are unsure whether an employee requires a check then please read the DBS eligibility guidance at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dbs-eligibility-guidance