DBS Referral, Barring Decisions, Appeals, and Reviews Process
Summary
The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) updated its guidance on the referral and barring decision-making process. The Review Application Form was added on 2 April 2026. An earlier update on 25 October 2024 clarified the 'no concerns' section to require senior officer agreement and documentation when the referred individual was under 18 at the time of the behaviour.
What changed
The DBS updated its guidance on the referral and barring decision-making process. The update clarified that when the referred individual was under 18 at the time of the behaviour, the case should be agreed by a senior officer and documented. The Review Application Form for reviews was also added as an attachment.
This guidance applies to employers and organisations making referrals to DBS when there are concerns about an individual's suitability for regulated activity with children or adults. Affected individuals may appeal or seek reviews of barring decisions. Organisations in regulated sectors should ensure compliance with DBS referral procedures and maintain proper documentation, particularly for cases involving individuals under 18.
What to do next
- Monitor for updates to DBS referral and barring guidance
- Contact DBS for the Review Application Form if seeking a review of a barring decision
Archived snapshot
Apr 16, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Guidance
DBS referral and barring decision-making process
The barring decision-making process at DBS, including information about barring appeals and reviews.
From: Disclosure and Barring Service Published 12 June 2015 Last updated 2 April 2026
— See all updates Get emails about this page
Documents
DBS referrals guide: referral and decision-making process
HTML
DBS referral guide: reviews
HTML
Review Application Form
MS Word Document, 69.2 KB
This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email customerservices@dbs.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.
Details
Guidance about regulated activity with children has been published by the Department for Education (DfE).
Information about regulated activity with adults is available from the Department of Health (DH).
Published 12 June 2015 Last updated 2 April 2026 show all updates
1.
2 April 2026
Review Application Form - file attachment created
2.
25 October 2024
Attachment DBS referrals guide: referral and decision-making process has had a line added to it in the 'no concerns' section, to clarify that "If the referred individual was under 18 at the time of the behaviour, then the case should be agreed by a senior officer and documented.”
3.
30 March 2022
DBS referral guide: reviews updated.
4.
20 May 2016
Added links to information about regulated activity with children and adults.
5.
12 June 2015
First published.
Get emails about this page Print this page
Related content
Related changes
Get daily alerts for Uk Disclosure And Barring Service
Daily digest delivered to your inbox.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime.
Source
About this page
Every important government, regulator, and court update from around the world. One place. Real-time. Free. Our mission
Source document text, dates, docket IDs, and authority are extracted directly from DBS.
The summary, classification, recommended actions, deadlines, and penalty information are AI-generated from the original text and may contain errors. Always verify against the source document.
Classification
Who this affects
Taxonomy
Browse Categories
Get alerts for this source
We'll email you when Uk Disclosure And Barring Service publishes new changes.
Subscribed!
Optional. Filters your digest to exactly the updates that matter to you.