DBS checks for Librarians: What you need to know.
DBS checks are important for knowing whether an applicant is allowed to work in certain roles, and librarians are no exception. Librarians are likely to be working closely with children, so they’ll need to obtain a DBS check. In this blog, we will explain what background checks librarians and library staff need to obtain.
What do Librarians do?
Librarians are responsible for overseeing the daily operations of a library at the public or private level. They usually work in schools, religious institutions, or as part of government-owned libraries and research facilities. Some of the roles of a Librarian include:
What does regulated activity mean?
Regulated activity refers to work that a barred person must not do. It is defined in the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (SVGA) which has been amended by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (PoFA). A child is any person who has not yet reached the age of 18 years. If you are employing or assessing someone to do work that is regulated activity with children you could request an Enhanced DBS check with a children’s barred list check.
The levels of DBS checks
DBS offers three different types of criminal record checks to ensure the correct level of information is accessed depending on the job role. Roles that require you to work with children and/or vulnerable adults will need a higher level of check.
Basic DBS Checks:
This level of check is available for all individuals, regardless of their job role. This level of DBS check will look through an individual’s criminal history, showing any unspent convictions that the applicant may have.
Standard DBS Checks:
This level of check is only available to organisations or companies who are completing a DBS check on somebody's behalf to make a suitability decision. This will check an applicant’s criminal history for cautions, warnings, reprimands, and convictions.
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Enhanced DBS Checks:
This is similar to a Standard DBS Check, and this type of check must be completed by an organisation or company on an individual's behalf, and will also check an applicant’s criminal history for cautions, warnings, reprimands, and convictions. An Enhanced DBS Checks can also include a check of the DBS's Children's and/or Adult barred list. Local police forces are also able to add any relevant information they hold on the applicant.
What level of DBS check do Librarians need?
As well as providing access to reading and information resources, librarians run community activities, often for children. They may also work with schools and colleges to offer guidance on using library resources and improve key skills like IT and literacy. This all suggests that Librarians will have regular or unsupervised contact with those under the age of eighteen. As Librarians will likely engage with children, they will be required to obtain an Enhanced DBS Check with a barred list check.
Other Library staff
Fast and reliable DBS checks
AuthentiQuest is a secure online solution that allows organisations to electronically submit applications to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and Disclosure Scotland (DS) to perform pre-employment criminal records checks.
Tel: 0121 234 1300
Email: [email protected]