Chefs who work in schools or care provision in the UK must undergo an enhanced DBS check with barred lists. DBS checks are statutory searches carried out by the Disclosure and Barring Service with the intention to keep the public safe.

The more engagement with the public your work involves, the deeper the level of background check you will need.

If you are working in an environment where you may come into close contact with children or vulnerable adults, you can expect to take the highest level of DBS check. For a chef working in a school or care provision, this will be an enhanced DBS check with barring for a chef.

What is an enhanced DBS check with barring?

An enhanced DBS check with barring for a chef involves a search for any unspent or spent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings. The DBS will also check for any other non-conviction information from relevant police forces or entries on the children’s and/ or the vulnerable adults barred lists.

The CRB check will form part of the assessment of your suitability for the role. Formal, nationwide checks of this nature for chefs in the UK came into effect in 1974, with the introduction of the 1974 Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.

The act was devised to ensure all necessary roles are properly vetted and children and vulnerable adults are not put in unnecessary danger.

If you will not be working in environments such as a school, where you will be in close proximity to children, a basic DBS check will be sufficient. ...About basic DBS checks

To find out more about DBS checks visit our home page. To understand more about the 1974 Rehabilitation of Offenders Act visit https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1974/53.