DBS checks and safeguarding screening for churches and faith organisations
Churches rely on trust. Whether you're appointing clergy, youth leaders, Sunday school teachers, trustees, or volunteers, safeguarding the people in your care particularly children and vulnerable adults - must come first.
At Eurocom CI, we provide professional DBS checks and background screening for churches and faith organisations across the UK, helping communities recruit safely, meet their safeguarding obligations, and maintain the confidence of their congregation.
What are the safeguarding requirements for churches?
Churches operate under a mix of statutory obligations and denominational safeguarding frameworks, all of which require background checks to be carried out on staff and volunteers in certain roles.
The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 This legislation establishes who is in regulated activity in relation to children and vulnerable adults. Anyone working regularly and unsupervised with children or vulnerable adults including church youth workers, children's group leaders, and pastoral care volunteers is in regulated activity and requires an Enhanced DBS check with the relevant barred list.
The Charity Commission Churches registered as charities have obligations under charity law to protect beneficiaries from harm. The Charity Commission expects trustees to take all reasonable steps to ensure their organisation is safe, which includes carrying out appropriate screening of staff and volunteers in positions of trust.
Denominational Safeguarding Frameworks Most major denominations publish their own safeguarding guidance that goes beyond statutory minimums:
- The Church of England's safeguarding policy requires Enhanced DBS checks for clergy, lay ministers, and anyone working with children or vulnerable adults
- The Catholic Church in England and Wales follows a similar framework via the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA)
- The Methodist Church, Baptist Union, and other denominations each publish their own safeguarding codes of practice
Thirtyone:Eight Thirtyone:Eight (formerly CCPAS) is the leading safeguarding charity for churches and faith organisations in the UK. Their guidance is widely used as the practical standard for church DBS checks and safer recruitment processes. Eurocom CI's church screening service is aligned with the principles set out in Thirtyone:Eight's safer recruitment framework.
What Eurocom CI church screening includes
The checks required depend on the role. We provide the following, configured to suit your organisation's specific needs:
Enhanced DBS check with barred list: Mandatory for anyone in regulated activity with children or vulnerable adults (youth workers, children's group leaders, pastoral care roles)
Basic DBS check: Suitable for administrative, trustee, or lower-risk roles
Identity verification: Confirming the individual is who they claim to be
Right to Work checks: For employed staff, confirming legal eligibility to work in the UK
International criminal record checks: For individuals who have lived or worked outside the UK, including overseas missionaries or clergy
Who in a church needs a DBS check?
The level of check required depends on the nature of the role and the level of contact with vulnerable groups:
Enhanced DBS with barred list required for:
- Children's and youth workers (Sunday school, youth groups, holiday clubs)
- Pastoral care workers with vulnerable adults
- Clergy and ministers with regular unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults
- Volunteers running activities for children
Standard or Basic DBS appropriate for:
- Trustees and church officers with no direct contact with vulnerable groups
- Administrative staff
- Occasional volunteers always supervised by a DBS-checked adult
If you are unsure which level applies to a particular role, our team can advise before you order.
The DBS Update Service for churches
Many churches rely heavily on volunteers who give their time across multiple organisations. The DBS Update Service allows you to carry out an instant online status check on an existing DBS certificate, without applying for a new one provided the volunteer is registered on the service.
This is particularly useful for churches that share volunteers with other faith organisations, schools, or community groups. Eurocom CI can help register your volunteers on the Update Service as part of the initial DBS application process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do church volunteers need a DBS check?
It depends on the role. Volunteers who work regularly and unsupervised with children or vulnerable adults are in regulated activity and require an Enhanced DBS check with the relevant barred list. Occasional volunteers who are always supervised by a checked adult may not require a DBS check, but this should be assessed and documented by your church's safeguarding lead. If in doubt, Eurocom CI can advise on the correct level for each role.
What level of DBS check do clergy need?
Most clergy require an Enhanced DBS check, as their role typically involves regular unsupervised contact with children and vulnerable adults. The specific requirement may also be set out in your denomination's safeguarding policy — for example, the Church of England requires Enhanced DBS checks for all ordained ministers.
Can Eurocom CI carry out DBS checks for overseas missionaries or international workers?
Yes. For individuals who have lived or worked outside the UK, a UK DBS check alone is not sufficient. Eurocom CI's international criminal record check service covers over 200 countries, providing a complete picture of a candidate's background regardless of where they have lived.
How do we keep records of DBS checks for our safeguarding register?
Eurocom CI provides downloadable certificates and reports on completion of each check. These can be stored as part of your church's safeguarding records. We recommend keeping a central register of all checks completed, the date of issue, and the level of check — this is the standard expected by most denominational safeguarding frameworks and the Charity Commission.
What is the DBS Update Service and should our church use it?
The DBS Update Service lets you carry out instant online checks on existing DBS certificates, without applying for a new one. For churches with a regular pool of volunteers many of whom may also volunteer elsewhere it can save significant time and cost. Eurocom CI can register your volunteers on the service as part of their initial DBS application.
We are a small church with only a few volunteers. Can Eurocom CI still help?
Yes. There are no minimum order requirements and no sign-up fees. Whether you need one check or fifty, you pay only for what you order. Our online process is designed to be straightforward for smaller organisations that don't have a dedicated HR team.
Why us?
No sign-up fees or ongoing costs: You only pay for the checks you need
~48-hour turnaround: Minimising delays to your recruitment process
References chased automatically and by real people: Our team follows up so you don't have to
Every screening reviewed by 3 separate team members: Reducing the risk of errors or missed flags
Free software demonstrations: See exactly how the platform works before you commit
Xavier, our proprietary screening platform: A user-friendly system built specifically for employers, with real-time candidate tracking
First-class customer service: a friendly, knowledgeable team available to answer your questions
Screening certificate and report available to download when completed
