Guidance on DBS for overseas work
IICSA · Children Outside the United Kingdom Phase 2 Investigation Report · Issued 9 January 2020 · Addressed to: Home Office
Government responseHome Office: Accepted (Jan 2021)
DeliveryHome Office says in progress (Apr 2022)
Recommendation, verbatim from the inquiry
●Inquiry recommendation, E
The Home Office should ensure explanatory guidance is issued, providing clarity to recruiting organisations and individuals concerning the use of the Disclosure and Barring Service scheme for work and volunteering outside the UK.
IICSA, Children Outside the United Kingdom Phase 2 Investigation Report · 9 Jan 2020 Source PDF →
Published evidence summary
AI-generated evidence summary
The Inquiry asked the Home Office to clarify overseas Disclosure and Barring Service checks. Writing on behalf of the department in April 2022, Daniel Rapport, for the Treasury Solicitor (Government Legal Department), stated that the service was finalising a guidance leaflet to be published by the end of May (Daniel Rapport, Apr 2022). That update described guidance developed specifically for the aid sector and charities, but did not mention individuals, with publication of the leaflet still outstanding (Daniel Rapport, Apr 2022). In January 2021, HM Government stated that the department would work with the service to reinforce guidance directing applicants ineligible for its certificates to the International Child Protection Certificate (ICPC) (Home Office response, Jan 2021; Home Office, Jan 2021).
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 5 Oct 2026.
Government response
●Home Office · Accepted · 21 Jan 2021
22. The DBS currently signposts applicants to the ICPC if their work abroad makes them ineligible for DBS certificates. The Home Office will work with the DBS to ensure that this message is reinforced in their guidance and the use of ICPCs is encouraged, as part of wider safeguarding policies and practices, where applicable.
Delivery
●Home Office says in progress · 28 Apr 2022
An element of that work has assessed the guidance currently available to the aid sector regarding the use of criminal record checks in the recruitment for work and volunteering outside the UK. We have been keen to ensure that existing available criminal record check options are clearly understood and communicated to the aid sector. Following consultation with organisations working in international development, we identified the need for further clarity and guidance around the eligibility of roles within the sector for criminal record checks, through either the DBS or ACRO. This work, and ongoing conversations with individual charities has led the working group to develop scenarios for guidance which will help organisations in the aid sector in their application for the appropriate level of criminal record check to support their effective use in recruitment. Working closely with members of the working group, including the Charity Commission, DBS are currently finalising the guidance leaflet and it will be published by the end of May, for provision to charities.
From: RE: Children Outside the UK Investigation: Update on response to recommendation (Home Office), Daniel Rapport, For the Treasury Solicitor (Government Legal Department, Litigation Group)
Earlier statements on delivery (0)
●Home Office · 21 Jan 2021
The DBS currently signposts applicants to the ICPC if their work abroad makes them ineligible for DBS certificates. The Home Office will work with the DBS to ensure that this message is reinforced in their guidance and the use of ICPCs is encouraged, as part of wider safeguarding policies and practices, where applicable.
How this page is built
The recommendation and the government responses are verbatim from primary documents. Delivery statements and other bodies' findings are shown in their own words, each with its source. The summary is written by this site and labelled as such. The Index does not paraphrase sources or characterise intent; it records what has been published.