Part of the Disclosure and Barring Service’s role is to help prevent unsuitable people from working with children and adults at risk .   Their specially trained teams assess whether individuals working, or wishing to work, in regulated activity pose a possible risk of harm to vulnerable groups.  They are able to make barring decisions based on a number of sources.

They consider convictions or cautions which are considered relevant and also referrals made by employers or organisations such as professional regulatory bodies.  Where there is concern that a person has caused harm or poses a future risk of harm to children or adults at risk the DBS can add them to the barred lists which they manage.

The organisations who are under a duty to make referrals include:

• Regulated activity providers;
• Personnel suppliers;
• Local authorities and Safeguarding Boards;
• Education and Library Boards;
• Health and Social Care (HSC) bodies;
• Professional Regulators and other authorities named in the legislation