Dudley councillors responsible for children’s services will now undergo more thorough background checks following the adoption of new government guidelines. At a cabinet meeting on 10 September, Dudley Council approved a report recommending enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for members of committees or bodies involved in children’s services or adult social care.
Currently, all Dudley councillors are subject to basic DBS checks, which reveal any past unspent convictions and cautions despite there being no statutory requirement for such screening. The newly approved enhanced DBS checks include additional non-conviction information considered relevant by police forces, providing a more comprehensive safeguarding measure.
Cllr Kerry Lewis, who advocated for the introduction of these enhanced checks, commented: “I welcome the cabinet’s decision to introduce enhanced DBS checks for elected members serving in roles and on committees with particular responsibilities for children and vulnerable adults.”
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Drawing on her experience as chairperson of the Children’s Scrutiny Committee in 2024, Cllr Lewis added, “I put forward a recommendation that elected members in these positions should undergo enhanced DBS checks and have continued to press for stronger safeguarding practices. Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults must always be a priority, and those entrusted with such responsibilities should be subject to appropriate checks and held to the highest standards of accountability.”
However, some councillors have expressed concerns that the measures do not go far enough. Cllr Jackie Cowell argued that all elected members should receive enhanced checks since any councillor could encounter vulnerable individuals in their role. She stated, “I have dealt with very vulnerable people, including child abuse cases and residents in care homes. Yet only a basic check is required if you are not on a particular committee. If enhanced checks are introduced, they should apply to everyone, as none of us can predict what we might face tomorrow.”
Aftab Razzaq, the council’s chief legal officer, explained that the authority is implementing these measures to the fullest extent permitted by current powers, but there remains the possibility of enhancing checks on a case-by-case basis.
These enhanced background checks represent a significant step in strengthening safeguarding protocols for those elected to positions impacting vulnerable children and adults in Dudley.