Disclosure & Barring Service: Free VCSE Workshops

Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) aims to protect the public by helping employers make safer recruitment and employment decisions, and by barring individuals who pose a risk to vulnerable groups from engaging in regulated activity.

Becky Haines is the new Outreach Adviser for the DBS for the West Midlands and is offering free support, training and advice on DBS functions, as well as raising awareness and knowledge of DBS processes and safeguarding responsibilities.

In the new year, Becky will be delivering workshops specifically for the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector in the West Midlands. The sessions are free-of-charge and will be delivered via MS Teams. Further information and how to book onto these free workshops is below.

DBS Checks – Understanding Eligibility: Workshop for West Midlands VCSE Sector
Date	Tuesday 20 January 2026
Time	10:00 am – 12:00 pm
To register	Registration Link – DBS Eligibility Workshop
Content	The different levels of DBS checks When an employee is eligible for a check Regulated Activity – Children and Adults DBS Update Service What safe recruitment practices can be in place that DBS checks can form a part of

DBS Barring and the Legal Duty to Refer: Workshop for West Midlands VCSE Sector
Date	Tuesday 3 February 2026
Time	10:00 am – 12:00 pm
To register	Registration Link – DBS Barring Workshop
Content	What regulated activity is When a DBS Barring referral should be made, including when there may be a legal duty to refer How to make a referral and what a good quality referral looks like The consequences of not making appropriate barring referrals The consequences of being included in one or both Barred Lists

DBS Update Service: Workshop for West Midlands VCSE Sector
Date	Tuesday 3 March 2026
Time	10:00 am – 11:00 am
To register	Registration link – DBS Update Service Workshop
Content	This workshop will explore the benefits of the Update Service and will be of value to those who hold responsibility for safer recruitment and employment and who are interested in learning more about this service and how to use it.

The DBS Partnerships team reserves the right to amend or cancel should we, for whatever reason, be unable to deliver an advertised training session. In these circumstances, the partnerships team will endeavour to provide adequate notice but will also ensure that a substitute date is made available. Please note, if you have any accessibility requirements we need to be aware of please email me rebecca.haines@dbs.gov.uk a minimum of two weeks prior to the session, where the advertised date allows.