DBS Checks for Ukrainian Refugee Sponsor Households

On the 18th March, UK Government announced that DBS Checks would be a fundamental part of the Homes for Ukraine Scheme. DBS Checks are comprehensive criminal record checks that are an essential part of safeguarding practice in the UK. 

The government have confirmed that DBS Checks will be a requirement for all members of any household hoping to accommodate refugees coming from Ukraine.  

Sponsor households will be required to either complete Basic or Enhanced DBS Checks. The level of check required will depend on the circumstances of the refugees being sponsored. 

Who Needs a Basic DBS Check? 

Basic DBS Checks are the base level of criminal record check available in the UK. They reveal details of any convictions and conditional cautions considered to be ‘unspent’ under the terms of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. 

If a household is sponsoring adult refugees only, then every person in that household over the age of 16 will be required to have a Basic DBS Check carried out.  
 

Who Needs an Enhanced DBS Check? 

Enhanced DBS Checks are usually reserved for the recruitment of roles involving care or children, such as doctors, nurses and teachers. Enhanced DBS Checks show comprehensive criminal record information, including: 

• Spent or unspent convictions 

• Cautions 

• Warnings 

• Reprimands 

• An optional search of the Child’s or Adult’s Barred List. 

Individuals and household sponsoring refugees may be subject to Enhanced DBS Checks (with relevant barred list search included), if: 

• The Ukrainian family includes children under 18. 

• There are adult members of the Ukrainian family that require additional support i.e., personal care, and the additional support will be undertaken by the host. 

If the above applies to any of the refugees being sponsored, then every household member over the age of 16 will be required to have an Enhanced DBS Check carried out. 
 

Who pays for the DBS Check? 

It is down to local authorities to cover the cost of any DBS Checks for households sponsoring refugees fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. 
 

How do sponsors get DBS Checks? 

If you’re hoping to accommodate refugees fleeing the Ukraine conflict, you need to contact your local authority. They will take you through the process of applying for DBS Checks and everything else just need to do.  

If you’re a local authority and need help and advice with processing DBS Checks for refugee sponsor households, click here.