DBS checks for Dentists and Dental Practice Staff

DBS Checks are mandatory for nearly every role in a dental practice. Working in dentistry means treating, caring for and supporting people in a vulnerable state. DBS Checks give you the information you need to make safe and informed recruitment decisions that protect your patients and your business. Personnel Checks process DBS Checks for dentists, dental nurses, dental receptionists for thousands of NHS and private dental practices across the UK.

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Standard DBS Checks

Certain roles in a dental practice only require a Standard DBS Check. These checks are the same as the Enhanced DBS Check, except they don’t include police notes or a search of the Barred Lists. DBS Checks for dental receptionists will usually be at the Standard level.

The eligibility criteria that determines what roles need what level of DBS Check can be extremely complex. If you’re unsure whether a staff member requires an Enhanced or Standard DBS Check, please get in touch. To discuss it with a member of the team, give us a call on 01254 355659, alternatively, click the button below to request a callback.

Enhanced DBS Checks

Most roles in a dental practice require an Enhanced DBS Check. This level of check shows an individual's full criminal record history. This includes cautions, warnings, reprimands, spent and unspent convictions, an optional search of the Barred Lists, as well as any relevant notes from the police.

Dental practices need this information to ensure inappropriate people aren’t recruited into roles where they pose a danger to vulnerable people. To be eligible for an Enhanced DBS Check, certain eligibility criteria need to be met.

These criteria generally involve the provision of healthcare or personal support to an individual who due to age, illness or disability cannot support themselves.

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Why Personnel Checks

Personnel Checks support a range of dental practices with their DBS Checks. Serving thousands of NHS and private dental practices, you can be sure we have the experience to meet your practice’s unique requirements. Processing background checks for nearly two decades, we have one of the lowest error rates and fastest turnaround times of any screening business in the UK.

To request a callback, click the button below and one of our experts will get in touch with you asap. Alternatively, you can give us a call on 01254 355659.

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Frequently asked questions

We don’t recommend accepting a DBS Check that has been issued by a canididat’s previous employer. A DBS Certificate is only valid at the time of issue. This means there is potential for new information to record in the time since its issue.
If the person you are recruiting has signed up for the DBS Update Service, you may not need to complete another DBS Check. The Update Service is an online subscription service allowing employers to view up to date certificate information.
However, the individual would still need to have the original certificate they signed up with and the role would need to require the exact same level of DBS Check.
If you are unsure, we would always recommend caution and carry out another DBS Check.
Personnel Checks are proud to be partnered with Practice Plan and offer a reduced processing cost for all Practice Plan members.

For more information about joining Practice Plan and enjoying the benefits that offers, click here.
A criminal record check is a search carried out by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). This is why they are generally referred to as DBS Checks. The DBS check against the Police National Computer, their records and local police data to produce a DBS Certificate containing an applicants criminal record history.
The DBS also maintain the Adult’s and Children’s Barred Lists. These lists contain the names of individuals barred from working with either children, vulnerable adults or both. Enhanced DBS Checks will include a check of the relevant Barred Lists if it is appropriate considering the job role someone is applying for.
In certain circumstances, individuals may be on the Barred Lists even if they have not been convicted of an offence. This is because the DBS use a civil standard of proof known as ‘the balance of probabilities’. If the DBS believe there is enough evidence to suggest it is probable that an offence could occur in the future, they will consider putting someone on the Barred Lists.
The cost of a DBS Check varies depending on which level of check is being applied for. Our list prices are:
Basic DBS Check: £39.60
Standard DBS Check: £44.40
Enhanced DBS Check: £64.40
Volunteer DBS Check: £22
What you see is what you get. We have no hidden fees and we don’t charge extra for ‘fast-track’ services that don’t exist.
Prices include VAT.

Getting checks for existing staff is commonly referred to as a renewal. There is no such thing as ‘renewing’ DBS Checks. We expand on this in more detail in our knowledge hub article, here.
Best practice is to complete new checks every 3-years. However, certain industries have specific rules. It’s important to familiarise yourself with the rules for your industry.
The DBS do run a subscription service, called the DBS Update Service.

If your staff sign up to the DBS Update Service, they can give you consent to carry out ‘status checks’ on their record. This would prevent the need for renewing your staff’s DBS Checks.
Regulated activity is work that a barred person cannot do. It refers to certain roles generally involving children and/or vulnerable adults. The vast majority of roles in the dental or healthcare sectors are considered regulated activities.
Any person providing regular care or treatment will require a barred list check to be included on their DBS Check.
The Disclosure and Barring Service have guidance booklets relating to roles in the Child Workforce, Adult Workforce and Other Workforce.
Anyone applying to become a CQC registered person within a firm must have an Enhanced DBS Check with the relevant Barred List searches completed before submitting an application. This DBS Check must be countersigned directly by the CQC. A DBS countersigned by any other body, for this purpose, will not be accepted.
Nominated individuals are not required to directly register with the CQC. An Enhanced DBS Check must still be carried out (incl. relevant Barred List searches) but this check can be carried out by a DBS Umbrella Body, like Personnel Checks.