DBS Checks – Medacy

Medacy have  supported both employed and locum pharmacists obtain Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for years. In previous times we  applied on behalf of the applicant and support them through the service. We even paid for our own employed pharmacists to join the update service and for their annual renewal.

The implementation of GDPR meant that we are no longer allowed to support pharmacists in the same way and it is now up to the pharmacist to maintain their registration with the update service and I have to say, like many healthcare professionals, pharmacists are pretty terrible at doing so.

So what is the DBS Update Service?

Until the implementation of the Update Service, Locum pharmacists needed to have separate DBS clearances for all the companies and agencies they worked with. Our record was a locum who had 12 active DBS clearances. The problem with the old service is that is what out of date the day after the DBS was completed. A locum could obtain a clearance then commit a crime and could still use their “clean” DBS for as long as employers would accept it.

Advantages

The DBS Update service is a live system on which potential employers can check a locum/workers DBS position on that day, and as many times as they like in future. In fact there are ways of obtaining monthly reports on all the locums you had cleared. It’s a much safer system and can be used by as many employers as you like.

So what can you do?

The Disclosure and Baring Service is available to all workers when they have a DBS completed. However, you only have 30 days to apply to joint the update service from the date in the DBS Certificate to join, click here . 

Joining the update service makes complete sense and it costs only £13 per year

Why are Medacy raising this issue?

Medacy have had four pharmacist this week who have let their clearance slip and this has delayed their deployment to support GP practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s probably yhe best £13 you will spend this year