Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks

Essential services – there is no NHS regulatory requirement for pharmacy contractors to have undertaken DBS checks on pharmacy staff providing Essential services.

Advanced services – there is no NHS regulatory requirement (either in the terms of service or Secretary of State Directions) for pharmacy contractors to have undertaken DBS checks on pharmacy staff providing Advanced services. However, where Flu vaccinations are undertaken in the patient’s own home (including a care home), contractors must ensure that vaccinators have a valid DBS certificate. Also if NMS is undertaken in patients’ homes, they must ensure appropriate safe-guarding arrangements are in place, including ensuring pharmacists have a valid DBS certificate.

Locally Commissioned Services and Enhanced Services – commissioners have the right to impose conditions for the provision of locally commissioned services. If the commissioner requires enhanced DBS checks as a pre-condition of providing a locally commissioned service, then the costs of the checks would usually be recovered either directly from the commissioner, or more likely from the income for providing the service.

Visit CPE for more info on the following:

• The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (SVGA)
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks
• FAQs

For further information, you may wish to visit DBS website here.