Work experience is a short-term employment placement in a workplace, typically lasting less than 15 working days and usually for a week. Work experience is unpaid, although reasonable expenses may be covered by the employer or host company. Work experience is typically undertaken by students or school pupils to help shape their ideas about what career they might go into after completing their education, or to give them practical experience which they can add to their CV.
For full-time workers, employers will often have written policies about DBS checks, and who should apply for an enhanced disclosure or basic disclosure. When it comes to young people on work experience placements, the picture is often less clear.
Law Around DBS Checks
Not every position requires a DBS check. If work experience is taking place in an office, or a shop, none of the full-time employers will require a DBS check. In other roles, such as in healthcare or education, DBS checking is essential for all workers. A DBS check is necessary for individuals undergoing work experience in these sectors only if the person undertaking the work experience is 16 or older, and the role requires DBS check.
General Work Experience in a School
Many young people who are still at school and considering applying for a career in teaching or childcare will do work experience at their primary school or in a nursery. A DBS check might not be required for these people if they are supervised in the classroom by someone who has an enhanced disclosure. For example, a sixth-form pupil going into school and reading with small groups in the classroom would not need a disclosure check if the class teacher or learning assistant remains in the classroom. The school where the placement is taking place may ask for a reference or testimonial from the student’s school.
Adults Supervising Children on Work Experience
In general, adults who are supervising under 18s on work experience placements don’t need to have a DBS check. This is the case whether the person under 18 is working in a part-time job or undertaking work experience. However, some thought should be given to safeguarding for the young person. This will depend on the layout of the place where the work experience is taking place. There are likely to be fewer safeguarding concerns in an open-plan office than in another location where the person on work experience is spending time one to one with an adult member of staff.
Basic DBS Checks
Many employers will ask for a basic DBS check for everyone, irrespective of age. If this is the policy, then work experience students aged over 16 can be asked to have one too. DBS checks can never be requested on younger students. It takes time to get a DBS certificate returned, so anyone assisting a child in applying for work should make sure there is time to get the application into the DBS and the certificate returned before the placement starts.
