Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to address delays to DBS checks for people recruited to the care sector.

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) operates to service standards of completing 80% of Basic check applications within two days, 80% of Standard check applications within 14 days, and 80% of Enhanced check applications within 14 days.

Year to date performance up to August 2022 is 85.1% for Basic checks, 96% for Standard checks, and 78.4% for Enhanced checks. These attainments apply to applications across all employment sectors, including the care sector.

DBS Adult First is a service provided by the DBS that can be used in cases where, exceptionally, and in accordance with the terms of Department of Health guidance, a person is permitted to start work with adults before a DBS Certificate has been obtained. This applies to adult services such as care homes, domiciliary care agencies and adult placement schemes where DBS Certificates are required by law.

Depending on the result from the DBS Adult First, a person can be permitted to start work, under supervision, with vulnerable adults before a DBS certificate has been obtained. Staff working within COVID roles in social and healthcare can also start in advance based on the outcome of the DBS Adult First check.

More guidance regarding adult first checks can be found on the Disclosure and Barring Service website