Safer recruitment

EY statutory framework providers must ensure that people looking after children are suitable to fulfil the requirements of their roles. It also requires providers to have effective systems in place to ensure that practitioners and any other person who makes contact with children are suitable - this would include anyone living or working in the premises.

Recruitment is the first step in ensuring that you appoint a suitable person with the right skills and approach for the role. Regard must be paid to safer recruitment so we advise that at least one person who conducts an interview has completed safer recruitment training. This can be sourced from any provider that the setting deems suitable.

 Following the recruitment of a new staff member, a robust and consistent induction process, followed by effective on-going supervision and training, will ensure that Safer Recruitment is a continuous process within your setting.

For further guidance and information on Safer Recruitment, please see:

• Early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework – ‘Suitable people’, ‘Disqualification’, and ‘Staff qualifications, training, support and skills’ (pages 23 to 27) details the statutory guidance that Early Years settings must follow in relation to Safer Recruitment
• Keeping Children Safe in Education (2022) – ‘Part three: Safer Recruitment’ (pages 50 to 85) provides detailed guidance on Safer Recruitment. Whilst it is not statutory guidance for Early Years settings, it details best practice guidance
• The NSPCC website - provides advice and guidance on the different elements of safer recruitment.

Disclosure and Barring service

An enhanced criminal records disclosure using the Children Barred List with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check must be obtained for all adults who work with the children, or in the same part of the premises whilst the children are present.

The DBS provides a searchable list of the umbrella bodies who process DBS checks for childcare providers. If an individual is registered with the DBS Update Service employers can instead obtain permission from the individual to view their original DBS check and carry out an instant free online check on the Update Service of any new information relating to the individual’s record. 

Please visit our Safeguarding section for more safeguarding information.