What is a DBS?
DBS is short for the Disclosure & Barring Service which provides a vetting check on those working in a paid or voluntary role with children and vulnerable adults. Completing a DBS is part of the process ECB, County Boards and Clubs have in place to safeguard the young people within our care.
The system for completing a DBS check in cricket is now done online which has increased the efficiency of the process and time taken for clearance to come back.
Who must have a DBS check?
Anyone over the age of 16 holding any of the following positions in a club, league or other cricket organisation must have a valid and current (less than 3 years old) DBS certificate:
- Safeguarding Officer (all Club, League, or County posts)
- Coach (whether volunteer or paid, assisting or leading)
- Umpire
- Scorer
- Managers of colts or junior sections
- Age group managers
- Open age team captains
- Junior supervisors
- First aiders, physiotherapists & medical support
Roles which are NOT eligible for Vetting Checks
- Chairman
- Treasurer
- Secretary (Membership or Fixtures-including Junior Membership secretary)
- Bar Manager
- Ground Staff
- Administrator
How do I obtain a DBS check?
A new DBS check can only be initiated by an ID verifier so if you require a DBS check you should contact your Club Safeguarding Officer in the first instance who should be able to initiate an online check for you.
Following the receipt of an email inviting you to complete your DBS application you will complete an online form with various personal details and once this is complete you can then arrange to meet an identity checker to confirm your ID.
Should you have any issues getting a DBS check initiated please contact Lesley Pykett.
How Much Will it Cost?
The cost of obtaining will be met by the ECB for all volunteers involved with cricket. The cost for those earning income through cricket is £44.
Who will know about my criminal convictions?
If convictions are revealed through a Vetting Check only the ECB Child Protection Team will be aware of these unless there is an over-riding need to share information with the County Safeguarding Officer or other external agencies in order to protect children. Where information is shared, this is done in accordance with the requirements of ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children, 2013’. All information is kept confidential and managed within a secure environment, in line with the requirements of the Data Protection Act and the DBS Code of Practice.
Supervision Ratios
Coaching Ratios*
Net Coaching – 1 Coach : 8 Children
Group Coaching (defined as a session where the children are involved in a group activity, outside of the nets) – 1 Coach : 24 Children
Hard Ball Coaching (session out of the nets but which involves a hard ball) – 1 Coach : 16 Children
N.B. – to define what qualifies as a Coach, see here: https://ecbcs.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360003112098-Qualification-Matrix-Supporting-Guide-October-2019
General Supervision Ratios*
Aged 8 and under – 1 adult : 8 children
Aged 9 and over – 1 adult : 10 children
The general supervision ratios are quite different from the coaching ratios. No matter what the numbers or nature of the session, a minimum of two responsible adults should be present in all circumstances, and sometimes more i.e. for a 4 child coaching session, there should be the coach taking the session, plus one other responsible adult (could be the Coach Support Worker but doesn’t have to be).
As another example, for a 24 child group coaching session you should ideally have 1 coach to coach the session, plus 2 further responsible adults present.
*All ratios relate to adults (over 18) looking after children (under 18).
For single sex groups, there should be at least one same gender adult present. For mixed sex groups there should be at least one male and one female supervising adult.