Charities must be aware that employees and volunteers will require a CRB check when they are employed in a role that gives them access to sensitive information, or brings them into contact with children or vulnerable adults. Volunteers who meet the criteria are entitled to a CRB check free of charge, but for all other employees charities will be charged the normal CRB fees. All applications for volunteer or employee roles will incur the Essex Disclosure Service administration charge.

When forming a charity, or appointing new trustees to existing charities, it is expected that all potential trustees will undergo an enhanced disclosure check. This will establish clearly whether they are a trustworthy individual, suitable for appointment to the position of trustee. This is true of charity trustees across all sectors, not just those dealing with sensitive information, children and vulnerable adults.

The Charity Commission states:
“All charity trustees have a duty of care, and a duty to act solely in the interests of the charity. The Commission believes that charity trustees run the risk of being in breach of these duties if they fail, without good reason, to carry out appropriate CRB checks when they are entitled to do so. In some circumstances such failures may be viewed as evidence of misconduct and/or mismanagement in the administration of the charity.”

For further information and guidance relating to CRB checks in the charitable sector, visit the Charity Commission website or contact the Essex Disclosure Service.