Provision of a Disclosure and Barring Service

Descriptions

Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) would like to undertake a market sounding exercise via a Market Sounding Survey to obtain feedback in relation to proposals for providing a Disclosure and Barring (DBS) check service to third sector organisations who are currently entitled to access the service provided by WCVA Criminal Records Unit.Since 2003 a free access service has been available to the third sector in Wales through Welsh Government funding support undertaken by Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) Criminal Records Unit (CRU). This funding is being withdrawn from 30th September 2016 and on behalf of the Welsh third sector WCVA is exploring a range of alternative delivery models.One potential delivery model is externally contracting through a bulk purchasing arrangement for all the current users of WCVA’s CRU service to an approved DBS Umbrella Registered Body service to carry out DBS checks via both paper and online (ebulk) application routes.The current service provided by WCVA CRU can demonstrate an annual processing demand over the last 4 years of:Yr TotalAve. Monthly2012/1317,8641,4892013/1420,8931,7412014/1518,9431,5792015/1624,7982,0664 yr Av20,6251,718In addition to providing this scale of service the outline requirements would be:•Provide a DBS check service – assessing legislative eligibility for and countersignature of DBS checks as an umbrella registered body•A full Welsh and English language service as outlined below - primarily for employers of third sector organisations working with vulnerable groups (not the applicants themselves).•Provide a choice of DBS check application routes – paper and online in both English and Welsh•Offer new service and products from DBS, specifically the DBS online portal planned for November 2016 and revised ebulk solution.A full Welsh language service will reflect:ALL verbal and oral communication – via email, telephone help line enquiries and all supporting resources and documentation to be equally available through the Welsh language as part of the day to day service delivery.Provision of Welsh language application forms and processing to the same service standard as English language formsIt is also expected that there will be a need for further compliance with revised Welsh Language standards expected to be published post July 2016Questionnaires can be obtained by clicking this link https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/BT8KJFV or by emailing Emma Waldron ewaldron@wcva.org.uk. Questionnaires must be completed by 11/05/16.