“I am struggling to find entertainers that are DBS certified. How can this be applied to group acts?” – Sheila, Activity Coordinator
Dear Sheila,
Thank you for sending in your question.
I am self-employed and regularly run reminiscence sessions in care homes. When I first started offering this service four years ago, I contacted CQC and asked whether I needed to have a DBS check. They informed me that ‘entertainers’ visiting care homes do not require DBS certificates, as they should never be left with vulnerable adults without a member of staff present.
However, I decided to obtain a roving DBS certificate anyway, in case I ever needed to be left unattended and also as it was useful for other work I carried out. But it was my choice to do so. I know some entertainers hold a basic DBS certificate simply as they feel it looks good on their webpage or promotional material, not due to it being a requirement.
As I am self-employed, I couldn’t apply directly for a DBS and had to apply through one of the care settings where I regularly work. Once the certificate was granted, it was simply a case of renewing it each year for a small fee.
However, I have never worked in a care home that has requested a DBS check. I would recommend that you contact CQC yourself to confirm this. Confirmation from CQC may help your manager accept that this is not something that you need to be requesting.
It is your responsibility to ensure that a member of staff is always present when entertainers visit. Residents should never be left unattended.
I do hold full personal liability insurance. It is vital that all entertainers visiting your care home do hold this insurance policy to protect both themselves and your residents and staff. It is good practice to request this and to keep a copy on record.
You should also check that any electrical equipment that is brought on-site by entertainers is PAT tested. Make sure they are aware of your fire exit procedure and most importantly, they mustn’t block fire doors or exits with their equipment.
Good luck and best wishes,
Jan
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