If the role is for less than 3 days in a 30 day period (unless its overnight between 2am & 6am), then it is NOT a regulated activity and is not eligible for an enhanced DBS check. – See Regulated_Activity_with_Children_in_England.pdf
(from https://thirtyoneeight.org/dashboard/eligibility-guide/church-roles/)
| Role | Eligibility | Level of Check / Notes | Preferred Title |
| BAPs | Eligible | Regulated Activity with children and adults (this is a paid role) | Trainee Minister |
| Bellringer | Not Eligible | Unless in a supervisory/teaching role with junior bellringers | Bellringer supervising Children |
| CAP Befriender | Eligible | Usually Enhanced, possibly Regulated Activity. See the flowchart and notes as this is dependent on individual role. | |
| CAP Centre Manager | Eligible | Regulated Activity with adults | |
| CAP Debt Counsellor | Eligible | Enhanced – Regulated Activity with adults if dealing with money on behalf of client | |
| Caretaker | Not Eligible | Unless they work in a school or their responsibilities include supervising children | Caretaker supervising children |
| Chalice Bearer | Not Eligible | ||
| Childcare Practitioner | Eligible | Regulated Activity with children | |
| Children’s Worker | Eligible | Enhanced if working on more than one occasion but Regulated Activity if role includes taking children to the toilet or they work frequently or intensively unsupervised | Church Children’s Worker |
| Choir Chaperone | Eligible | Enhanced or Regulated Activity with children – see flowchart and notes | Choir Chaperone with Children |
| Choir Master | Eligible | Eligible only if supervising/teaching children or supervising those who do – then usually Enhanced and Regulated Activity with children | Choir Master with Children |
| Choir Member | Not Eligible | Unless also has chaperone or teaching role with junior choir members | Choir Supervising Children |
| Church Leader | Eligible | Regulated Activity with children and adults | |
| Churchwarden | Eligible | Enhanced (if a Trustee of a charity that works with children or adults at risk) or Regulated Activity depending on their role | Churchwarden / Trustee |
| Clergy | Eligible | Regulated Activity with children and adults | |
| Coffee or Tea Servers | Not Eligible | ||
| Counsellor | Eligible | Enhanced if carried out frequently or intensively with adults or on more than one occasion with children and Regulated Activity if receiving referrals from healthcare professionals and/or if unsupervised with children | Counsellor / Counsellor in Regulated Activity |
| Creche Worker | Eligible | Enhanced with Regulated Activity if changing nappies/toileting children and/or not supervised | |
| Debt Advisor | Eligible | Enhanced if working frequently or intensively with adults at risk – Regulated Activity if dealing with money on behalf of client or providing counselling by means of a social services or health care professional referral | |
| Director of Music | Eligible | Eligible only if supervising/teaching children or supervising those who do – if so then usually Enhanced and Regulated Activity with children | Leader of Music Supervising Children |
| Driver of Adults at Risk | Eligible | Enhanced if carried out frequently or intensively – Regulated Activity if taking adults to or from a place where they receive health care (i.e. hospital, GP surgery, nursing home, etc. – not residential home) on one occasion or more | |
| Driver of Children | Eligible | Regulated Activity with children if frequently or intensively, Enhanced if on more than one occasion | |
| Elder | Not Eligible | Unless a Trustee and/or responsibilities include supervising the work of children or adults at risk | Trustee/Church Leader supervising children/adults at risk |
| Evangelist | Eligible | Enhanced if a Church of England commissioned Evangelist | Lay Minister/Evangelist |
| Flower Arranger | Not Eligible | ||
| Foodbank Worker | Not Eligible | Generally not eligible but see flowchart and notes | |
| Head Server | Eligible | Only eligible if supervising/teaching children on more than one occasion – if so then Enhanced and Regulated Activity with children | Head Server supervising children |
| Home Visitor | Eligible | Enhanced if frequently or intensively with adults | |
| Homeless Shelter Worker | Eligible | Enhanced and possibly Regulated Activity – see flowchart and notes – unless only serving food/refreshments or having a supervised ‘friendly chat’ in which case not eligible | |
| Hospital Chaplain | Eligible | Enhanced and usually Regulated Activity with adults and/or children | |
| Incumbent | Eligible | Regulated Activity with children and adults | |
| Junior Church Helper | Eligible | Enhanced if working on more than one occasion, but Regulated Activity if role includes taking children to the toilet or they work frequently or intensively unsupervised | |
| Junior Church Leader | Eligible | Enhanced if working on more than one occasion, but Regulated Activity if role includes taking children to the toilet or they work frequently or intensively unsupervised | |
| Lay Minister of Communion | Not Eligible | ||
| Licensed Lay Minister (LLM) | Eligible | Enhanced and usually Regulated Activity depending on terms of license | |
| Minister | Eligible | Regulated Activity with children and adults | |
| Nightshelter Worker | Eligible | Enhanced and possibly Regulated Activity – see flowchart and notes – unless only serving food/refreshments or having a supervised ‘friendly chat’ in which case not eligible | |
| Nursery Manager | Eligible | Regulated Activity | |
| Nursery Worker | Eligible | Regulated Activity | |
| Open the Book Volunteer | Eligible | Only Regulated Activity if unsupervised | |
| Ordinand in Training | Eligible | Regulated Activity with children and adults (this is a paid role) | |
| Ordination Training Candidate | Eligible | Regulated Activity with children and adults (this is a paid role) | Trainee Minister |
| Organist | Not Eligible | Unless also has chaperone/teaching role with junior choir members | Children’s Choir Supervisor |
| Overseas Children’s Worker | Eligible | Usually Regulated Activity | |
| Parent and Toddler Group Helper | Not Eligible | Unless they supervise activities with children in which case normally Enhanced – see flowchart and notes | |
| Parent and Toddler Group Leader | Eligible | Usually eligible for Enhanced Check in Regulated Activity if the role includes supervising/caring for/toileting children away from parent/carer | |
| Parish Administrator | Not Eligible | ||
| Parish Secretary | Not Eligible | ||
| Pastor | Eligible | Regulated Activity with children and adults | |
| Pastoral Assistant | Eligible | Enhanced if carried out frequently or intensively – Regulated Activity if doing shopping and therefore taking money | Pastoral Worker |
| Pastoral Team Member | Eligible | Enhanced if carried out frequently or intensively – Regulated Activity if doing shopping and therefore taking money | Pastoral Worker |
| Pastoral Visitor | Eligible | Enhanced if carried out frequently or intensively – Regulated Activity if doing shopping and therefore taking money | Pastoral Worker |
| Pastoral Worker | Eligible | Enhanced if carried out frequently or intensively – Regulated Activity if doing shopping and therefore taking money | |
| PCC Member | Eligible | Enhanced as they are Trustees of a charity that works with children or adults at risk – whether or not a Church checks all its PCC members is a matter for local determination and should be confirmed with the appropriate diocese. | PCC/Trustee |
| Prayer Team Member | Not Eligible | Unless regularly praying unsupervised with children | |
| Premises Manager | Not Eligible | Unless they work in a school or their responsibilities include supervising children | |
| Reader | Eligible | Often Regulated Activity with children or Enhanced with Adults, although this can differ according to core responsibilities and role – post-licensing renewals subject to diocesan policy | Lay Minister/Reader |
| Sacristan | Not Eligible | May qualify if also a Server – follow guidance for that role | |
| Safeguarding Officer | Eligible | Eligible if supervising those engaged in a Regulated Activity or working with children or adults at risk – for Church of England the role is also eligible if the applicant serves on the PCC (see PCC role notes) | Safeguarding Officer Supervising Regulated Activity |
| Server | Not Eligible | Unless in a supervisory/teaching role with junior servers | Server Supervising Children |
| Sidesperson | Not Eligible | Unless specifically designated to supervise/toilet children | Steward Supervising Children |
| Steward | Not Eligible | Unless specifically designated to supervise/toilet children | Steward Supervising Children |
| Street Pastor | Eligible | Only eligible for a basic disclosure | |
| Sunday School Assistant | Eligible | Enhanced if working on more than one occasion – Regulated Activity if role includes taking children to the toilet or they work frequently or intensively unsupervised | Sunday School Helper |
| Sunday School Helper | Eligible | Enhanced if working on more than one occasion – Regulated Activity if role includes taking children to the toilet or they work frequently or intensively unsupervised | |
| Sunday School Leader | Eligible | Enhanced if working on more than one occasion – Regulated Activity if role includes taking children to the toilet or they work frequently or intensively unsupervised | |
| Sunday School Teacher | Eligible | Enhanced if working on more than one occasion – Regulated Activity if role includes taking children to the toilet or they work frequently or intensively unsupervised | |
| Support Worker | Eligible | Usually Enhanced, possibly Regulated Activity – see flowchart and notes | |
| Tower Captain | Eligible | Eligible if supervising/teaching children or supervising those who do – then Enhanced and Regulated Activity with children | Bellringer Leader Supervising Children |
| Treasurer | Not Eligible | Unless they are also a Trustee of a charity that works with children or adults at risk – see notes under ‘Trustee’ | Trustee of Charity |
| Trustee | Eligible | Only eligible for Enhanced Check if Trustee for a charity that works with children or adults at risk | Trustee of Charity |
| Verger | Not Eligible | It is highly unlikely that your verger will be eligible at all, unless there is a specific duty/role within the job description for working with children and/or vulnerable adults. Any contact is likely to be deemed to be incidental to the main purpose. That said there may be eligibility, if there are any duties which mean they are directly engaged or have substantial contact with children/vulnerable adults (such as where they are authorised to provide pastoral care). | |
| Welcomer | Not Eligible | Unless specifically designated to supervise/toilet children | |
| Worship Leader | Not Eligible | Unless also has chaperone/teaching role with child members in which case ‘Children’s Worship Leader’ should be the position applied for | |
| Youth Camp Worker | Eligible | Usually in Regulated Activity | |
| Youth Worker | Eligible | Enhanced if working on more than one occasion and often Regulated Activity if working weekly, intensively or overnight not supervised |