Introduction

BDHC is committed to creating a safe and positive environment for all young people involved in hockey. It is important that people with a history of relevant and significant offending are prevented from contact with/responsibility for young people and do not have the opportunity to influence policies or practice in relation to them. BDHC therefore requires any individual wishing to work with young people in hockey to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. The DBS enables BDHC to make informed recruitment decisions. It is not used in isolation, but as part of the process to determine if someone is suitable to work with young people in a particular role.

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) are a government run organisation which aids organisations in making safer recruitment choices. They do this by processing and issuing DBS checks that discloses any criminal convictions, warnings, cautions or reprimands held in England or Wales. They also maintain adult and child barred lists and make decisions on whether individuals should be added to said lists.

A DBS check is required for anyone who is working or volunteering in a role that is in ‘regulated activity’ with anyone under the age of 18, see link here. Hockey clubs and associations have a legal requirement to not knowingly employ anyone who is working in ‘regulated activity’ who is on the child barred list. Anyone who is or planning to work in regulated activity with under 18s in hockey is required to perform an enhanced DBS check with a child barred list check included. This check must be performed every three years.