Uk Disclosure And Barring Service

DBS Referral, Barring Decisions, Appeals, and Reviews Process

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.

DBS Business Plan 2026-27 Objectives Next 12 Months

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) has published its business plan for 2026-27, outlining objectives and priorities for the coming 12 months in alignment with its 3-year strategy. The plan covers DBS's operational goals for criminal record disclosure services and barred list management. No new compliance obligations or regulatory requirements are established by this business plan.

DBS Publishes 2026-2027 Business Plan, Improving Services

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) published its 2026-2027 business plan on 8 April 2026, setting out priorities for improving products and services for customers and partners. The plan focuses on safer recruitment, new technology implementation, improved equality data collection and analysis, and delivery of a Workforce Strategy. DBS aims to achieve better public outcomes by 2028.

Quality Assurance Framework Version 10 (QAF v10)

The UK Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) published version 10 of its Quality Assurance Framework (QAF), which came into force on 1st April 2026. The framework applies to all organisations registered with DBS for criminal record and barred list checks, including employers, umbrella bodies, and registered bodies. QAF v10 includes updated templates (AT1, AT2, AT3), a dispute form (AT12), and process maps (MP1, MP2) for quality assurance purposes.

DBS Gender Pay Gap Report 2025

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) published its 2025 Gender Pay Gap Report on 31 March 2026, fulfilling the UK statutory reporting requirement for employers with 250 or more employees. The report details DBS's gender pay gap figures and outlines actions being taken to close the gap within the organisation. A Welsh language version and a British Sign Language translation were also made available.