Portability

Portability is the re-use of a DBS Disclosure for a position in another organisation.  The DBS has clarified that it will not facilitate the portability of Disclosures and that organisatons using portability do so at their own risk.  Major limitations for re-using a Disclosure include:

• An offence may have occured since the Disclosure was issued.
• The Disclosure may not be at the level to which we require to check our staff/students (ie enhanced level)
• The original may not include checks of the ISA Adults Barred and/or ISA Children Barred lists .
• The applicant's copy of the Disclosure will not state if any additional information was provided by the Police.

For these reasons it is Durham University's policy not to accept Disclosures from other institutions.

It is also Durham's general policy not to share Disclosures with other organisations and all information provided should remain confidential and disclosed to authorised personnel only; unauthorised disclosure is an offence.  However in exceptional circumstances it may be possible to share information with partner organisations eg student on placement.  In these instances explicit consent must be sought from the individual to share the disclosure.  Please see the 'Good Practice' webpage for an example of a Disclosure consent letter.

In all other circumstances Durham University will only provide confirmation to other organisations that a Disclosure has been received.  It is recommended that if an individual wishes to present their Disclosure to another organisation that they retain their own personal copy.

If you require further information on portability or a particular case, please contact the Deputy Academic Registrar, Sam Dale (Lead Countersignatory), tel: 0191 33 46120, email: depacademic.registrar@durham.ac.uk or Sue Woodcock, tel: 0191 33 46141, email: s.e.woodcock@durham.ac.uk