Sector Specific DBS Webinars

In partnership, National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) and Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) hosted joint webinars in 2023. These webinars were aimed at practitioners from Human Resources (HR)/People teams and Safeguarding teams and extended to those strategic level individuals who hold corporate risk and responsibility within their service, to learn more about the appropriate levels of DBS checks fire and rescue services (FRSs) can request for employees and volunteers.

At the 2023 NFCC Autumn Conference, NFCC’s strategic lead for safeguarding referred to the significant amount of work and engagement with FRSs who have already attended a webinar. Furthermore, the presentation centred on strategic responsibilities and the corporate risks associated to legislative change, the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions). Legislative change commenced in July 2023, enabling FRSs to be eligible for a standard DBS check for employees of their service, including volunteers.

NFCC have been working hard to ensure that fire and rescue services understand the different levels of DBS checks that can be applied for and to ensure FRSs understand their responsibilities when making barring referrals, and we are pleased to announce additional ‘Legal Duty to Refer’ webinars.

These webinars are aimed for those who hold corporate risk and responsibility within your Service (usually Senior Leadership member and above), Safeguarding & HR management.

The webinar(s), which will also host regional DBS colleagues will cover:

  • what ‘regulated activity’ is and the type of roles which are in regulated activity within the Fire and Rescue Services
  • when a DBS barring referral should be made, including when the legal duty is met
  • the three different referral routes
  • how to make a good quality referral
  • the consequences of not making appropriate barring referrals
  • the consequences of being included on one or both Barred Lists

To learn more about the DBS and the legal position regarding appropriate levels of DBS checks for fire and rescue services when submitting a referral for employees and volunteers, and book your space, please visit this Eventbrite link and select an appropriate date for attendance: Fire Service Legal Duty to Refer Webinar.

If you have any questions or wish to submit questions in advance, please send an email to safeguarding@nfcc.org.uk.

We thank you for your ongoing support and look forward to having you join us.