The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) has unveiled its Business Plan for 2025-26, setting out a road map to enhance safeguarding efforts and foster economic growth. Aligned with the newly launched 2025-28 strategy, the plan aims to drive measurable impact across key areas while delivering high-quality services to employers, individuals, and the broader community.
Strategic Objectives and Key Activities
The DBS’s 2025-28 strategy includes five overarching strategic objectives (SOs), guiding its activities for the year:
- Products and Services: Providing accessible, timely, and high-quality services.
- Being Visible, Trusted, and Influential: Building a stronger presence and trust with stakeholders.
- Delivering through Innovative Technology: Embracing new technologies to improve service delivery.
- Customer Data and Insight Led: Using customer feedback and data to refine services.
- Being People-Focused: Supporting employees and fostering an inclusive and adaptable workplace culture
Looking Ahead
The 2025-28 Business Plan marks the first year of a broader, multi-year strategy that promises continued investment in technology, process improvements, and stakeholder collaboration. Through these efforts, the DBS aims to meet the evolving needs of its customers, reduce risks associated with safeguarding, and ensure its services remain at the forefront of public safety.
Key Objectives for 2025-26
The DBS’s short term primary objectives for the year include:
- Reducing risks to children, vulnerable adults, organisations, and society.
- Promoting safer recruitment practices.
- Providing value for money services to assist employers in making informed hiring decisions.
To achieve these goals, the DBS has outlined a series of strategic activities and initiatives. These will not only build upon existing commitments but also introduce new projects to further improve DBS operations and service delivery.
Innovative Technological Advancements
The DBS is committed to use cutting-edge technologies, including AI, to streamline processes and enhance operational efficiency. Key technological developments in the year ahead will focus on improving matching capabilities to reduce reliance on police input, implementing new systems to speed up DBS checks, and exploring assistive technologies to support barring decisions.
Furthermore, the DBS will work with the National Police Chiefs Council and the Home Office to explore more efficient access to police information, including supporting the transition from the Police National Computer (PNC) to the Law Enforcement Data System (LEDS).
Strengthening Relationships with Stakeholders
Throughout 2025-26, the DBS will place a strong emphasis on building visibility, trust, and collaboration with external stakeholders. A major initiative will be the development of educational resources and outreach programs, such as podcasts, to enhance understanding and support for safeguarding efforts across various sectors. The DBS also aims to bolster its influence by providing technical advice on the implementation of safeguarding-related legislation and strengthening its ‘Duty to Refer’ framework to support employers and regulators.
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