Safer Recruitment

Safer Recruitment

Safer Recruitment Policy ensures a safe and fair recruitment and selection is conducted at all times. Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults who may be at risk is an integral factor in recruitment and selection and is an essential part of creating safe environments.

The Safer Recruitment and DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check processes allow us to make safer decisions about who to recruit to particular roles and help to prevent unsuitable individuals from working with children, young people and/or adults at risk. Recruiting the right people to roles at the Diocese of Leeds helps to ensure that everyone is safe from being harmed.

Volunteering for the Diocese of Leeds.

All volunteers roles within the parish need to complete the safer recruitment process, in line with all other charities and organisations. Volunteers whose role does not require a DBS check must complete the following process before being appointed to role:

• DBS 1B Volunteer registration form to be completed and  returned to the Parish Safeguarding Representative (PSR) or the parish priest
• DBS 2 Reference request form – these will be requested by PSR or parish Priest.  Volunteers will need to provide two referees. The referees must have know the volunteer for over 2 years and cannot be family members, the Parish Priest or Deacon or the PSR.

Volunteers roles that require a Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS).

As part of its commitment to ensuring that children, young people and adults are kept safe from harm, the Catholic Church in England and Wales will apply robust selection and appointment processes to anybody who is applying to work or minister within the Church in a role which gives them direct access to children or adults. To find out more about DBS please click https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/disclosure-and-barring-service

Some roles will be working directly with children, young people and adults at risk; and will therefore require volunteers to undergo a DBS check before they undertake that role. The Parish Safeguarding Representative will discuss your role with you and decide if you need a DBS check.

There are different levels of DBS checks depending on the role. Legally we can only check you for the role you are undertaking. Current role descriptions can be found in the downloads section of this page.

Overseas Background Checks

The DBS cannot access criminal records held overseas and a DBS check may not provide a complete view of an applicant’s criminal record if they have lived outside of the UK. The Diocese ensures that we have access to all the information available to us to make a safer recruitment decision.  The safeguarding team will identify if a check is required on receipt on the safer recruitment paperwork and will contact the applicant directly. 

Safer Recruitment Guidance

DBS Process Flow Chart for online applications
DBS Process Flow Chart for Paper applications

Forms for a NEW volunteer with online DBS application

DBS1a – Volunteer Registration form
DBS2 – Reference Proforma
DBS3C – Identity Verifier (March 2025)

Forms for a NEW volunteer with paper DBS application

DBS1a – Volunteer Registration form
DBS2 – Reference Proforma
DBS3a -Confirmation of Identity Form
DBS4 – Confidential Safeguarding Self Declaration (August 2025)
DBS17 -Applicant Consent for DBS Processing Form (August 2025)

Forms for an online 3 year renewal

DBS3C – Identity Verifier (March 2025)

Forms for a Paper 3 year renewal

DBS3a -Confirmation of Identity Form
DBS4 – Confidential Safeguarding Self Declaration (August 2025)
DBS17 -Applicant Consent for DBS Processing Form (August 2025)
Paper DBS application form (available on request from the Safeguarding office)

To complete the Safer recruitment process all volunteers must sign the Code of Conduct

NEW – ID guidelines

 DBS Document list 2025