DBS Checks for Pharmacies
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DBS Checks for Pharmacies are an essential part of safe recruitment
Why DBS Checks for Pharmacies are essential
Why DBS Checks for Pharmacists Are Essential
DBS checks for pharmacists confirm applicant suitability for regulated healthcare roles. They protect patients and support safe pharmacy environments.
The Importance of Trust in Pharmacies
Pharmacists and pharmacy staff work closely with vulnerable people. Therefore, employers must ensure every worker is thoroughly vetted.
How DBS Checks for Pharmacies Provide Assurance
DBS checks for pharmacies confirm applicants have no concerning criminal records. They also prove legal clearance to work in regulated positions.
Risks of Skipping DBS Checks
Without DBS checks, pharmacy providers risk patient safety and non-compliance. These risks could damage trust and harm professional reputations.
Understanding DBS Checks for Pharmacists
What a DBS Check for Pharmacists Reveals
A DBS check for pharmacists shows convictions, cautions, or warnings. It also confirms if applicants are barred from regulated roles.
Why DBS Checks for Pharmacies Are Vital
DBS checks for pharmacies matter because staff work directly with patients. Safeguarding risks in these settings can be significant.
Benefits of Completing the Correct DBS Check
Completing the correct level of DBS check builds a safer workforce. Patients feel reassured, and the pharmacy’s reputation stays protected.
Understanding the Levels of DBS Checks
New providers must know that several DBS check levels exist. In pharmacies, Enhanced DBS checks are most common due to personal contact.
How DBS Checks Support Recruitment Decisions
DBS checks provide employers with essential information. This helps them make clear and confident recruitment decisions for pharmacy staff.
Matching DBS Levels to Roles - What DBS Level do different Staff need for a Pharmacy
PQS 2025/26 DBS Requirements for Pharmacists
Under the 2025/26 PQS guidelines, all registered pharmacists and pharmacy technicians must hold an enhanced DBS certificate. The certificate must be issued since 1 April 2023 or be valid through the DBS Update Service until 31 March 2026.
The Correct Level of DBS Checks for Pharmacy Staff
The correct DBS check level for healthcare staff is an Enhanced DBS with the relevant Barred List. This applies to pharmacists, technicians, and supervisors. It ensures everyone involved in patient care is thoroughly vetted for safeguarding purposes.
Pharmacists & Technicians
Pharmacists and technicians deliver regulated healthcare to adults or children. They require an Enhanced DBS, often with barred list inclusion.
Managers
Managers may need an Enhanced DBS if they oversee regulated activities. This applies even when they do not provide direct patient care.
Dispensers and Assistants
If dispensers or assistants give healthcare advice or supervise staff, they require an Enhanced DBS. If they do not, the requirement may be lower.
Drivers
Drivers are generally not eligible for DBS checks. However, if they handle controlled drugs, an Enhanced DBS is required.
Admin and Support Roles
Admin and support staff are not eligible for Standard or Enhanced DBS checks. Employers may use a Basic DBS at their discretion.
Adult Workforce vs. Children’s Workforce
DBS Checks for Pharmacists and Patient Groups
DBS checks for pharmacists must reflect the type of patients supported. When pharmacy staff provide regulated activity with adults, an Enhanced DBS with the Adult’s Barred List is required.
When Services Include Children
If services also cover children or young people under 18, staff must be checked against the Children’s Barred List as well.
The Importance of Identifying Patient Groups
It is vital to confirm if patients include children. Employing someone barred from working with children is a serious criminal offence.
DBS Checks for Pharmacies Serving All Patients
For pharmacies supporting both adults and children, staff must be checked against both barred lists. This ensures compliance and protects every patient.
The Barred Lists Explained
Understanding the Barred Lists
The Disclosure and Barring Service maintains two lists of individuals banned from regulated activity. These are the Adult’s Barred List and the Children’s Barred List. A person may appear on one or both lists depending on their background.
Impact of Being on a Barred List
If a prospective employee is listed, they cannot work in roles involving that group. For example, someone on the Adult’s Barred List cannot legally work in a pharmacy supporting vulnerable adults.
Why Barred List Checks Are Essential
The barred list check prevents unsuitable individuals from entering trusted healthcare roles. It acts as a vital safeguard for patients and staff.
What New Pharmacies Must Know
For new pharmacies, understanding barred list requirements is crucial. Non-compliance can cause serious legal issues and reputational harm.
The Adult First Check Explained
Regulated Activity with Adults in Pharmacies
In pharmacies, many staff roles involve regulated activity with adults. These include dispensing medication, providing treatments, and supporting vulnerable patients. Such positions require an Enhanced DBS that includes the Adult’s Barred List. The Adult First Check is a rapid service created to speed up recruitment in these cases.
How the Adult First Check Works
The Adult First Check is requested with an Enhanced DBS including the Adult’s Barred List. It provides an initial result within about 72 hours. The result confirms if the applicant is not on the barred list or if more checks are needed.
Interpreting Adult First Check Results
If the result is clear, staff may start supervised work while waiting for the full DBS certificate. If further investigation is required, this does not mean the person is barred. However, they cannot begin until the final certificate is issued.
Why Pharmacies Benefit from the Adult First Check
This service is useful for pharmacies needing to recruit quickly to meet urgent patient demand. The cost of an Enhanced DBS with or without the barred list is the same. Requesting the Adult First Check adds only a small extra fee.
No Equivalent for the Children’s Barred List
Currently, there is no rapid-check service available for the Children’s Barred List.
Meeting Regulatory Requirements for Pharmacies
Why Safeguarding in Pharmacies Matters
Pharmacies handle medicines, including controlled drugs, and care for vulnerable people. Safeguarding measures ensure unsuitable individuals are not placed in trusted positions. DBS checks reassure patients and the public that staff do not present risks.
Expectations from Employers and the NHS
The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) does not require DBS checks for registration. However, employers and the NHS expect them as part of safeguarding duties. Enhanced DBS checks are necessary because pharmacists and technicians carry out regulated activities with adults and children.
DBS Checks and the NHS Pharmacy Quality Scheme
The NHS Pharmacy Quality Scheme makes regular DBS checks a contractual requirement. All registered community pharmacy staff must hold a recent Enhanced DBS certificate by March 2026.
DBS Checks as Part of the Regulatory Framework
DBS checks support the regulatory framework that governs pharmacy practice. By ensuring staff are vetted, pharmacies comply with safeguarding law and maintain public confidence in their services.
Important points at a glance…
- All registered Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians must hold a recent Enhanced DBS certificate or be subscribed to the DBS Update Service, in line with NHS Pharmacy Quality Scheme requirements.
- Pharmacists and Technicians require Enhanced DBS Checks with the relevant Barred List, as they deliver regulated healthcare directly to patients.
- Managers who oversee regulated activities also need Enhanced DBS Checks, even if they do not provide direct patient care.
- Dispensers and Assistants must have Enhanced DBS Checks if they provide healthcare advice or supervise others. If their role is limited to non-clinical support, a lower-level check may apply.
- Drivers are generally not eligible for DBS Checks. However, if they transport controlled drugs, an Enhanced DBS Check is required.
- Admin and support staff are not eligible for Standard or Enhanced DBS Checks. Employers may choose a Basic DBS for added reassurance.
- When pharmacies serve both adults and children, staff must be checked against both the Adult’s and Children’s Barred Lists to remain compliant.
- Employers can use the Adult First Check to recruit quickly. This rapid service gives an initial result within 72 hours and allows supervised work until the full certificate is issued.
- Although the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) does not mandate DBS Checks for registration, the NHS and employers expect them as part of safeguarding and regulatory compliance.
