The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is supporting Wales National Safeguarding Week, providing its expertise to a range of informative, awareness-focused activities.
Wales National Safeguarding Week, taking place from 9 to 13 November 2026, brings organisations and professionals across Wales together around safeguarding awareness, learning and practice.
DBS checks are one part of DBS’ contribution to safeguarding. Depending on a professional’s role, organisation and circumstances, other DBS subjects may also be relevant, including check eligibility, regulated activity, referral responsibilities and barring.
During Wales National Safeguarding Week, DBS is contributing expertise on these subjects to activity organised by Regional Safeguarding Boards across Wales.
Working with safeguarding partners across Wales
Regional Safeguarding Boards across Wales are organising programmes of activity and learning throughout the week.
DBS is contributing expertise to a number of these sessions through Owain Rowlands, DBS Regional Outreach Adviser for Wales.
Cardiff & Vale Safeguarding Board
Gwent Safeguarding Board
North Wales Safeguarding Board
Mid and West Wales Safeguarding Board
West Glamorgan Safeguarding Board
DBS subjects being explored during the week
Across the Regional Safeguarding Board activity, recurring DBS subjects include:
The Cardiff & Vale and North Wales sessions cover a broad range of Disclosure and Barring subjects. Gwent and Mid and West Wales include sessions specifically focused on the Legal Duty to Refer. West Glamorgan’s session explores harmful behaviour outside the workplace, risk of harm, barring and barring referrals.
The sessions are organised and hosted by the respective Regional Safeguarding Boards, with DBS contributing Disclosure and Barring expertise as part of their wider Wales National Safeguarding Week activity.
Safer recruitment and DBS checks
The type of DBS check that may be available depends on the role.
Organisations can use DBS guidance to find out what type of check they can get for a particular role.
Find out what type of DBS check you can get
Referral responsibilities
Organisations may have responsibilities around making referrals to DBS.
DBS guidance explains who can make a referral, who has a legal duty to refer and the conditions that apply.
Support beyond Wales National Safeguarding Week
DBS information, guidance and support remain available beyond both individual sessions and Wales National Safeguarding Week.
DBS Regional Outreach Advisers provide dedicated support to organisations within their allocated regions. The service includes support with DBS-related queries, DBS checks and information about referral duties or powers.