Supporting North West London with DBS Checks
(Harrow, Hillingdon, Ealing, Brent, Barnet, Hounslow, Hammersmith & Fulham)
Voluntary Action Harrow Limited is a registered umbrella body with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), formerly the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB), and offer a comprehensive DBS checking service.
What we offer:
| Level Of Check | DBS Fee | Non-Profit Organisation Admin Fee | Non-Profit Organisation Total Cost (DBS Fee + Admin Fee) | Public/Private Organisation Admin Fee | Public/Private Organisation Total Cost (DBS Fee + Admin Fee) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volunteer (Standard/Enhanced) | £0 | £21.00 | £21.00 | £31.00 | £31.00 |
| Staff (Standard) | £21.50 | £21.00 | £42.50 | £31.00 | £52.50 |
| Staff (Enhanced) | £49.50 | £27.00 | £76.50 | £37.00 | £86.50 |
| DBS Update Service for Paid Staff annually | £16 |
| DBS Update Service for Volunteers | £0 |
Get a DBS check done:
If you would like to use the DBS service, we will first need to register your organisation on our database.
To register you can:
Already registered and need more forms for your staff, colleagues or volunteers?
Helpful documents:
Benefits to your organisation:
The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) helps employers make safer recruitment decisions and prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable groups, including children.
Organisations have a duty to make referrals to the Independent Safeguarding Authority i.e. DBS, and must not knowingly engage a barred person in a regulated activity. It is a LEGAL requirement for Information to be sent to ISA if you dismiss or remove someone from a regulated activity (or would have done if they hadn’t left your organisation)
DBS for Ukraine Hosting Scheme
If you are sponsoring a Ukrainian family under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme you will be asked to contact us for a DBS check by Harrow Council. Please use the following form for to request a DBS check.
You will need to book an appointment to come in see us to have the DBS check carried out.
Please note that if you have other family members living with you over the age of 16 they will also require a DBS check.
Contact Us
Email [email protected] or call 020 8861 5894
You can also book an appointment through the DBS team’s calendar here.
Please note that you need to complete the registration form before
Changes to Disclosure and Barring Service Checks (DBS)
Regulated activity: removal of the supervision exemption (comes into force 1 September 2026)
Guidance for schools, colleges and childcare settings to understand what they need to do to comply with the change to regulated activity that will come into force on 1 September 2026. This is due to changes made by the Crime and Policing Act 2026.
The Act changes the definition of regulated activity by removing the supervision exemption. Under that exemption, unpaid activities such as teaching, training, instructing, or caring for or supervising children were not classed as regulated activity if supervised by someone who was in regulated activity (for example, a class teacher).
Key facts at a glance
The change is not limited to volunteers or education settings.
It can apply to both paid staff and volunteers across organisations including:
No.
Removing the supervision exemption does not mean that every role involving children becomes regulated activity.
The nature of the activity and how frequently it is carried out must still be considered.
For teaching, training, instructing, caring for or supervising children, the relevant period condition includes activity carried out:
For example, an occasional volunteer helping at a one-off daytime event would not automatically become regulated activity as a result of this change.
There is no blanket requirement to obtain a new DBS Check for everyone.
However, DBS is advising organisations to review their current arrangements.
We recommend reviewing individuals who:
Yes. You do not need to wait until 1 September.
DBS has confirmed that, where the other elements of regulated activity are met, organisations can apply for an Enhanced DBS Check with Children’s Barred List information in advance of the change.
Where a role will become regulated activity from 1 September, you should consider whether a new Enhanced DBS Check with Children’s Barred List information is appropriate, taking into account any relevant sector-specific guidance.
We recommend reviewing any potentially affected roles before 1 September 2026, including checking whether existing DBS certificates included a Children’s Barred List Check.
The change is particularly relevant to supervised volunteers, such as regular classroom or reading volunteers.
This change will come into force on 1 September 2026.
The main group affected by the change is volunteers. Volunteers may not previously have been in regulated activity if they were supervised by a member of staff. From 1 September 2026, volunteers engaging in regulated activity will need an enhanced DBS check that includes children’s barred list information.
It is an offence for:
– a barred person to engage in regulated activity
– someone to permit a barred person to engage in regulated activity
Schools and colleges need to ensure that any volunteer who is now in regulated activity is not barred from working with children.
Full guidance can be found here on the Gov website
Regulated Activity with Children: MYTH Busting the September 2026 Supervision Exemptions Changes can be found here
Episode 1: How DBS Checks Support Safer Recruitment
In this opening episode, we explore the role DBS checks play in safer recruitment processes, with expert insight from colleagues at NSPCC. Whether you are new to DBS checks or want to refresh your knowledge, this episode provides a clear and accessible introduction. Available from 15th June.
Episode 2: Levels of DBS Checks — Working with Children
This episode examines the different levels of DBS check and when each applies to roles working with children. DBS subject matter experts Karen Bennett and Susie Blamire explain the distinctions between Basic, Standard, Enhanced, and Enhanced with Barred List(s) checks. Available from 22nd June.
Episode 3: Levels of DBS Checks — Working with Adults
Focusing on roles involving adults, this episode explores check levels and regulated activity in adult settings. Bethany Culshaw (DBS) and Cath Sykes from the Ann Craft Trust discuss what employers need to know when recruiting for adult social care and related roles. Available from 29th June.
Episode 4: How Police Consider Disclosing Information on Certificates
Suzie Dunn from DBS explains the process by which police decide what information to disclose on Enhanced DBS certificates, helping employers and applicants better understand what may appear and why. Available from 6th July.
Episode 5: How Employers Should Consider Information Disclosed on Certificates
Cathy Taylor from DBS and Debbie Sadler from Unlock discuss how employers should approach information disclosed on a DBS certificate in a fair, consistent, and proportionate way. Available from 13th July.
Episode 6: Your DBS Questions Answered
In the series finale, DBS Regional Outreach Manager, Jo Wheatley, addresses key themes and questions that have emerged throughout the series, offering practical guidance and signposting listeners to further support. Available from 20th July.
Search “DBS Discussions” on your preferred platform, or visit the links below.