Regulated Activity and Enhanced checks

What is Regulated Activity?

Regulated activity is something that a person working in Northern Ireland must not do if the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) has “barred” them from working with children and adults. It is an offence for a barred person to do such work or to apply to do such work. There are currently 63,000 individuals across England, Wales and Northern Ireland on the DBS barred lists.

Where an individual is working in regulated activity with children or adults, they are entitled to apply for an AccessNI enhanced check, together with a check of the “barred” lists held by the Disclosure and Barring Service and the Scottish government. The application must be countersigned by an organisation that is registered with AccessNI.

What positions are considered to be working in regulated activity?

In 2012, the scope of regulated activity was re-defined through the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 to focus on those working most closely with children and adults. The definitions of regulated activity in respect of children and adults can be found at the links below.

• Health ni - regulated activity in relation to children
• Health ni - regulated activity in relation to adults

An enhanced check, together with a barred list check can only be obtained where the person is engaged in regulated activity.

Supervision of those engaged in regulated activity with children

In respect of regulated activity with children, the level of supervision provided is a determining factor as to whether someone is working in regulated activity. The link below provides statutory guidance on activity which when unsupervised, is regulated activity.

• Further information is available at health ni -regulated activity - supervision activity with children

Enhanced checks where a person is not working in regulated activity

It may be possible to apply for and countersign an application for an enhanced check for someone whose is not working in regulated activity, though you cannot ask for a check of the barred lists. Positions that fall within this category include

• working in the health or further education sector with access to personal records on children or adults
• applications or renewals for taxi licences
• where a domestic controlled drug licence issued by the Department of Health is required or
• Anyone working in the pre-2012 definitions of regulated activity but not within the current definitions. This mainly applies to working with adults.