NEWS STORY- DBS launches Series 2 of its podcast to support safer recruitment across the UK
DBS has launched Series 2 of its podcast, with 6 new episodes covering topics such as DBS check levels, police disclosure, and safer recruitment.
DBS Launches New Podcast Series to Support Safer Recruitment Across the UK
The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) has launched the second series of its podcast, DBS Discussions: Safeguarding in Focus, designed to help employers, HR professionals, safeguarding leads, and recruitment practitioners better understand DBS checks and their role in safer recruitment. The six-part series explores some of the most common questions received by DBS and features contributions from safeguarding experts and partner organisations including the NSPCC, Ann Craft Trust, and Unlock.
The podcast series aims to provide practical guidance for organisations recruiting staff and volunteers into roles involving children, young people, and adults at risk. At a time when safeguarding expectations continue to evolve, the resource offers a useful opportunity for employers to strengthen their understanding of safer recruitment processes.
What Does the Podcast Cover?
The new series consists of six episodes released weekly throughout summer 2026.
Topics include:
The role of DBS checks within safer recruitment.
Understanding the different levels of DBS checks for those working with children.
DBS eligibility and regulated activity when working with adults.
How police decide what information may be disclosed on Enhanced DBS certificates.
How employers should consider information revealed through DBS checks fairly and proportionately.
Answers to common questions from employers and safeguarding practitioners.
The series has been designed to make complex areas of safer recruitment more accessible and practical for organisations across the public, private, and voluntary sectors.
Why Safer Recruitment Matters
While DBS checks are an important safeguarding tool, they represent only one part of a robust safer recruitment process.
Effective safer recruitment helps organisations reduce the risk of appointing individuals who may be unsuitable to work with children, young people, or adults at risk. It also helps create safer organisational cultures where safeguarding responsibilities are understood from the outset.
A strong safer recruitment process should include:
Clear role descriptions and safeguarding expectations.
Appropriate DBS checks where eligible.
Verification of identity and qualifications.
Robust employment history checks.
Professional references.
Values-based interview questions.
Ongoing supervision and safeguarding training.
The DBS podcast series reinforces that safeguarding begins long before an individual starts work within an organisation.
Understanding DBS Checks Is Essential
One of the key themes running throughout the series is the importance of understanding which DBS check is appropriate for a particular role.
Confusion around eligibility, regulated activity, and barred list checks remains a common challenge for many organisations. Applying the wrong level of check can create legal, compliance, and safeguarding risks.
The podcast episodes dedicated to working with children and adults aim to help employers understand the distinctions between:
Basic DBS checks.
Standard DBS checks.
Enhanced DBS checks.
Enhanced DBS checks with Barred List information.
For safeguarding leads and recruitment managers, maintaining confidence in these processes is critical to ensuring organisations meet both their legal and safeguarding responsibilities.
Looking Beyond the DBS Check
Another important area covered within the series is how employers should interpret information disclosed on DBS certificates.
The presence of information on a certificate does not automatically make someone unsuitable for employment. Employers must be able to assess information fairly, consistently, and proportionately while maintaining a clear focus on safeguarding.
This reflects an important principle of safer recruitment: safeguarding requires professional judgement, not simply administrative compliance.
Organisations need policies, procedures, and trained decision-makers who can balance risk, fairness, and legal obligations appropriately.
A Valuable Resource for Safeguarding Leaders
The DBS podcast series provides a free and accessible learning resource for anyone involved in recruitment, safeguarding, governance, or workforce management.
For Designated Safeguarding Leads, HR professionals, trustees, governors, senior leaders, and recruiting managers, the episodes offer practical insights into an area that remains fundamental to creating safer organisations.
At RLB Safeguarding Ltd, we welcome resources that help organisations strengthen their understanding of safer recruitment and safeguarding responsibilities. Effective safeguarding starts with recruiting the right people, asking the right questions, and ensuring robust processes are in place from the very beginning.
The new DBS podcast series is a useful addition to the safer recruitment toolkit and one we would encourage safeguarding professionals to explore.
Resources
Read more here
How to listen
DBS Discussions: Safeguarding in Focus is available free on Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube. New episodes are released weekly from today, 15th July.
Search “DBS Discussions” on your preferred platform, or visit the links below.
Listen to DBS Discussions on Spotify.
Listen to DBS Discussions on YouTube.
Listen to DBS Discussions on Amazon Music.
You can contact DBS at DBSdiscussions@dbs.gov.uk with any questions.
Episode transcripts will be published alongside each episode release for accessibility.