• Dentist – as explained above, dentists are medical professionals, as they are primarily responsible for providing healthcare to patients. Anyone who is deemed a medical professional is eligible for an Enhanced DBS check, with an additional barred list check (on both the Adults’ and Children’s Barred List).
• Dental nurse – dental nurses also provide healthcare, and therefore engage in a regulated activity. Like dentists, this means that dental nurses must apply for an Enhanced DBS check with barred list check, once an employer has requested one.
• Administrator – while anyone working in an administrative role within a dental surgery is not responsible for providing healthcare, they will still be coming into contact with patients as part of their role. Such staff members would typically be eligible for a Standard DBS check, but potentially higher if they are also responsible for supervising children.
• Receptionist – same as above, it’s expected reception staff working in a dental practice will be required to apply for a Standard DBS check, but potentially higher if their role extends to carry out regulated activities.
  Both Standard and Enhanced DBS checks disclose spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings for an applicant. The difference being that Enhanced DBS certificates include additional information a local police force deems relevant to an application.
• Cleaner – if a cleaner is unlikely to interact with patients during their tenure in a dental surgery, or indeed any other medical institution, they are eligible for a Basic DBS check. However, if the cleaner is likely to have access to patient wards, then they would be eligible for higher checks.

As you can see from the above, it’s vital to ensure that all staff working in a healthcare setting, such as a dental surgery, have the appropriate criminal record check carried out. Healthcare settings should always ensure safeguarding and care is of the highest standard, and only suitable people are recruited and vetted.