Question from a H.E. institution:
We carry out DBS checks on students enrolled for programmes of study in which they are regularly in sole charge of persons under 18 or vulnerable adults including ITE (initial teacher education) courses. We only carry out the DBS check once they have accepted and confirmed their place (late August/ early Sept) and the DBS can take many weeks to be returned which can result in a delay to them starting their teaching placement or, if they do not get clearance due to something arising from their DBS check, the student being removed from that programme of study and offered a different study which does not involve a placement in a regulated setting. However this is often very last minute which can be very stressful for the student, disruptive for the teaching placement who was expecting a trainee and for colleagues. Some colleagues have suggested that at interview stage we could ask the applicant: Naturally headteachers need to be very mindful of safeguarding matters and scrutinise student-teachers’ DBS. Is there anything that you feel would prevent you from being accepted on teaching school placements?
The purpose of this would be to flag up any 'big issues' which would result in a clear cut 'no' from DBS and save the student months of looking forward to a programme of study which they are not going to be able to do.
Rightfully this has been flagged up as a data protection concern and I, as data protection lead, am not sure of what advice to give. Can we ask at all? If so, what phrasing is appropriate? Should we write to them instead? Do we need consent? Should it be written consent? Any other solutions?
I would be really interested in hearing what other colleagues do in this setting or relevant advice from other sectors.
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