Disclosure and Barring Service Checks (Enhanced Disclosures) (DBS)

Legislation is now in place which has put in place the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). See also section on Vetting and Barring Scheme (click here).

Crown Green

British Crown Green has a separate dedicated system and applications should be made to the Lead Safeguarding/Welfare Officer, Telephone: Mobile:07702347360. address: 46 Silverbrooke Road, Naylorsfield, Liverpool, Merseyside, L27 1XJ Mr Paul Ashmore

English Short Mat

ESMBA use the auspices of British Crown Green as their umbrella body. In the first instance please apply through the ESMBA: Mr Keith Hawkins Phone mobile: 07588 880599, address: 10 St Thomas Court, Bridgwater Somerset, TA6 5SJ Email: keith@esmba.co.uk

English Bowling Federation and English Womens Bowling Federation

English Bowling Federation use the auspices of British Crown Green. In the first instance please apply through the EBF/EWBF Safeguarding Officer Mr Mick Warriner Phone 0115 9333623 mobile: 07785274517 address: 14 Grandfield Crescent Radcliffe on Trent N14 1AN Email: nottsfedbowls@gmail.com

English Bowls Coaches Society

English Bowls Coaches Society have the use of processing DBSs through the auspices of British Crown Green. In the first instance please apply through the EBCS Secretary Mrs Carol Watt-Sullivan Phone 0208 650 7424, address: 149 Copers Cope Road, Beckenham Kent BR3 1NZ Email: carolwattsullivan@virginmedia.com

The fee for a volunteer application through BCGBA route is currently £10 which is a general administration charge to cover incidental expenses, provided the applicant is a volunteer. The designated representatives for processing of DBSs are:

Coaches (EBCS) Mrs Carol Watt-Sullivan,
149 Copers Cope Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 1NZ
Tel: 020 86650 7424
 

British Crown Green Bowling Association (BCGBA) Mr Paul Ashmore,
46 Silverbrooke Road, Naylorsfield, Liverpool, Merseyside, L27 1XJ
Tel: Mobile:07702347360
 

English Bowling Federation (EBF) Mr Mick Warriner,
14 Grandfield Crescent Radcliffe on Trent N14 1AN
Tel: 0111593333623 mobile: 07785274517
 

English Short Mat Bowling Association (ESMBA) Mr Keith Hawkins,
10 St Thomas Court, Bridgwater Somerset, TA6 5SJ
Tel: mobile: 07588880599
 

This list was last updated in December 2014.

It is recommended that a record is kept of forms issued to members. It is the responsibility of the applicant to inform the association or Club Safeguarding/welfare Officer (SO/WO) of the results of the disclosure.

Clubs and Associations are reminded that the DBS Disclosure is the property of the individual and the SO/WO should not keep the originals, merely making a record of the disclosure submitted.

DBS Disclosure fee

The DBS only levy a fee where the applicant receives payment for his/her position. The majority of applicants within the family of bowls are currently classed as volunteers and as such the only charge made is the administration charge to process through our umbrella body (British Crown Green).

Application Procedure

The DBS application process is explained by clicking here. Applications should only be made for those persons who actually need a DBS Clearance, not those who only think they might need one. Clarification can be sought on whether your rôle needs one can be obtained from one of the members of the Association of Bowling Codes Safeguarding Panel.

Applicants are reminded that under the new proposed legislation it will be an offence for “employers” to knowingly make unlawful DBS applications.

Checking of Documents for a DBS registration

Crown Green

British Crown Green have in place document verifiers throughout the counties affiliated to the Crown Green Code. Contact Mr Paul Ashmore for more details.

English Short Mat BA (ESMBA)

ESMBA have in place document verifiers throughout the counties affiliated to the Short Mat Code and can also use the services of Crown Green document verifiers. Contact Mr Keith Hawkins for more details.

English Bowling Federation/ English Women's Bowling Federation (EBF/EWBF)

EBF have in place document verifiers throughout the counties affiliated to the EBF code and can also use the services of Crown Green document verifiers. Contact Mr Mick Warriner for more details.

English Bowls Coaches Society (EBCS)

EBCS have some document verifiers throughout the counties and can also use the services of Crown Green document verifiers. Contact Mrs Carol Watt-Sullivan for more details.

Please note that as well as verifying your documents, part of the document verifier's rôle is to verify that you actually need a DBS for the post you hold/ will hold.

Bowls England and EIBA Ltd

Bowls England and EIBA Ltd use TMG as their preferred supplier. Please contact either Bowls England or EIBA Ltd Head Offices.

Please note that as well as verifying your documents, part of the document verifier's rôle is to verify that you actually need a DBS for the post you hold/ will hold.

Why use BCGBA?

There are a number of benefits to accessing DBS checks via BCGBA. These are:

• BCGBA acts as an interface between the NGBs involved with the Assocation of Bowling Codes (ABC) and the DBS.
• BCGBA will administer the process and acquire the DBS check forthe NGBs involved in the Association of Bowling Codes and for the ABC Safeguarding Panel.
• BCGBA offer to the family of Bowls involved with the Association of Bowling Codes experience in handling and processing DBS checks that can pay dividends in ensuring that the check is completed as quickly as possible
• The Family of Bowls may, from time to time, only require a small number of checks per annum and cannot meet the threshold requirements or the terms for direct registration.
• BCGBA acts for the NGBs involved in the Association of Bowling Codes (and it’s Safeguarding Panel) providing help and assisance help and assistance in order to comply with certain obligations contained in the DBS’s Code of Practice.

Why use the NGB preferred services?

The detailed reasons for not using other services are:

• The Association of Bowling Codes Safeguarding panel can quality assure the process and guarantee that the process has been properly managed
• The Panel can hold the DBS to account if a Disclosure is issued with an incorrect postcode, spelling error etc. All of these things affect the quality of the Disclosure and help ensure the Association of Bowling Codes Safeguarding Panel has the right information to work with. Other agencies will need to be challenged by the Club if there are errors.
• The Association of Bowling Codes Safeguarding Panel has secure delivery addresses, storage and shredding arrangements and properly protected data.
• If a Local Authority or other agency is used and there are problems, then the Joint Panel cannot assist or advise with situations such as fingerprinting, escalating costs and chasing delayed Disclosures nor with dispute management or complaints. The Club will then be legally liable under current legislation if it accepts such a DBS.
• The Assocation of Bowling Codes Safeguarding Panel works closely with the DBS to ensure that the Code of Practice is met. This is a set of legal requirements that fall out of the Police Act 1997. If the Club uses a local agency and breaches the Code of Practice then the Club will be responsible for the potentially serious consequences.
• The Code of Practice has requirements re storage, destruction and information sharing. The Association of Bowling Codes Safeguarding Panel manages this for Clubs and ensure they do not fall foul of the law. Using an independent agency means the Club must sign up to the Code of Practice, understand and adhere to it. Inspection by the DBS is possible.
• A Club may not share any Disclosure information with the Association of Bowling Codes Safeguarding Panel. If the applicant is disclosed to be on the Sex Offenders’ Register (for example) the club will need to manage this and may not share this information with the Joint Panel or any other club, or their NGB. If the Joint Panel receives the Disclosure it can manage a national response. It should be clear to members that only with nationwide response can protection of children be enforced.
• The Association of Bowling Codes Safeguarding Panel can access expert advice from the CPSU in difficult decision making.
• The Association of Bowling Codes Safeguarding Panel can maintain a national register of checked coaches and officials and enable coaches and officials to move from club to club with a degree of confidence. If checks are managed by the club, the NGB cannot do this as it has no right to the information released
• A Disclosure may be issued with Additional Information. This is information that does not show on the applicant’s copy as it is only issued to the employer. If a check is done locally this additional information will be released to the Club. This information may be high risk, for example, pertaining to the downloading of indecent images or to investigations into allegations of harm to children. It would be illegal for the club to share this information with the applicant or with the Joint Panel. This means the club would have to deal unsupported with the situation. This is extremely difficult and challenging even for a NGB with legal, CPSU, TMG and insurance support.
• The NGBs will not be held responsible for any Club or Association that chooses to use the services of another third party provider or to rely on a disclosure not issued through the approved routes for the Sport of Bowls.

Portability of DBS Disclosures

Portability refers to the re-use of a DBS Disclosure obtained for a post in one organisation and later used for a position in another.

In common with the DBS, The Joint Panel for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults does not endorse the use of a previously issued Disclosure due to the limitations and risks involved. If a Club or Association relies on a previously issued Disclosure, it should carefully assess the degree of risk in not obtaining up to date information regarding the applicant. The following are examples:

Limitations

• The Disclosure may not be at the correct level, ie, Standard instead of Enhanced.
• The Disclosure has no formal period of validity. It's information based on information at the date of issue may be out of date and not reflect the current situation.
• The Disclosure may not have included checking of the relevant lists held under the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Risks

• A previously issued Disclosure will not satisfy any requirement, legal or otherwise, for a fresh check.
• There is no guarantee that the Registered Body concerned with the previous Disclosure accurately and fully verified the person’s identity.
• The personal details (Name, address etc) may not now be valid. (a check on identity documents should be carried out.)
• Have you permission to verify the Disclosure with the former employer or Registered Body?

There are, however, plans under legislation being drafted to put to Parliament to enable DBS Disclosures to become “Portable (transferable)” to enable a DBS to be used for rôles of a similar nature for a similar group giving the “employer” the ability to verify an existing DBS. However, this will not remove the responsibility of the “employer” to do a proper risk assessment to ensure they fulfil their duty of care.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

Details of the current situation regarding the implementation of the Disclsure and Barring Service (formerly Vetting and Barring Scheme and ISA registration (currently implementation is halted)) can be found here.

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