UK social workers work with some of the most vulnerable members of society in unsupervised contexts. Anyone who wishes to become a social worker must undergo a comprehensive DBS check.

DBS checks are statutory criminal record checks used to keep the public safe.

All regulated healthcare professionals plus those who work in close contact with children and vulnerable adults are subject to the deepest DBS checks.

A DBS check for a social worker is an enhanced DBS check with barred lists. Your regulatory body, the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) will also need this check to be conducted.

An enhanced DBS check for a social worker will involve a search for any unspent or spent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings. The DBS will also check if there is any further non-conviction information in existence with relevant police forces or entries on the children’s and vulnerable adults barred lists.

The need for DBS checks is set out in the 1974 Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. The act’s purpose is to safeguard the public, particularly children and vulnerable adults.

Your enhanced DBS check can only be requested by your employer. To find out more about your legal rights and enhanced DBS checks for social workers visit: hub.unlock.org.uk/rehabilitationofoffendersact or HPCP