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By thecheckpeople_admin
Published 4:12 pm

DBS Check For Hospital Staff

There are few other working environments where the quality of the staff is as important as hospitals. Hospital workers have intimate access to scores of vulnerable individuals on a daily basis. As such, it is imperative that hospital administrators hire only the most suitable workers. Most people understand they will need to submit to a DBS check before they can work in a hospital. But there is some confusion regarding which type of DBS check they may need.

Which Type of DBS Check Does a Hospital Worker Need?

Since hospitals deal with the most vulnerable among us – including people with life-threatening conditions, the elderly and children – it is safe to assume that anyone working in a hospital will need to submit to a DBS Check of some sort. As is the case with other types of employment, the type of DBS check required for hospital staff will depend on their responsibilities.

Hospital Worker

Who Needs a Basic Check?

The Basic DBS Check is only concerned with whether or not a person has any unspent criminal convictions on their record. The Basic DBS Check will be enough for any hospital employee who does not come in contact with patients, such as administrative staff. Spent convictions do not appear on a Basic Check. But unspent convictions will preclude them from working in a hospital in any capacity.

Who Needs a Standard DBS Check?

Many hospital positions that bring a staff member into contact with patients and visitors, but do not involve patient care will require a Standard DBS Check. This includes certain food service jobs, cleaning jobs and most maintenance positions. However, should the position in question involve direct access to patients, visitors or children a Standard Check will likely not be sufficient.

Who Needs an Enhanced DBS Check?

When it comes to DBS Checks for hospital staff with direct access to patients, we jump from the Standard Check directly to the Enhanced DBS Check with Barred List. In the process bypassing the normal Enhanced Check. This is because every hospital patient is considered vulnerable to some extent. And DBS rules require anyone coming into contact with children or vulnerable adults during the course of their job to have the Enhanced Check with Barred List.

This not only includes medical staff members, but workers whose job it is to convey patients from place to place within the hospital. Also, staff members engaged in the transport of hospital equipment, including equipment that may be in patient rooms, common areas and the like. All employees at a dedicated children’s hospital will need to submit to an Enhanced DBS Check with Barred List.

Hospital Worker

What About Hospital Volunteers?

According to the Police Act of 1997, a volunteer is “any person engaged in an activity which involves spending time, unpaid doing something which aims to benefit some third party and not a close relative.” DBS uses this definition as a baseline to determine if someone qualifies for true volunteer status. But there are other criteria as well.

  • The person must not benefit directly in any from the proposed position
  • The person must not be compensated for the volunteer work except to cover basic expenses
  • The position must not be related in any way to a work placement program
  • The position must not be associated with a course the person is taking
  • The position must not be a stepping stone to a permanent paid position

If your volunteer position at the hospital fulfils these requirements you will qualify for a DBS Check. If the volunteer position brings you into direct contact with patients or children, you will need an Enhanced DBS Check with Barred List.

To learn more about DBS Checks for hospital staff, contact The Check People today.