DBS Backs Wales National Safeguarding Week 2026 Across Wales 2026

Key Points

• I am excited that Wales National Safeguarding Week 2026 will run from 9 to 13 November 2026. It brings together organisations and professionals from all parts of Wales. They will work together to raise awareness of safeguarding to learn skills and to improve practice.
• The Disclosure and Barring Service known as DBS will support the week. DBS will give advice for the awareness activities that Regional Safeguarding Boards have set up throughout Wales.
• Owain Rowlands, the DBS Regional Outreach Adviser for Wales will help run confirmed sessions in Cardiff & Vale, Gwent, North Wales, Mid and West Wales and West Glamorgan. Owain will bring Owain knowledge to each session.
• The topics that will be covered include DBS checks and who’s eligible for them the workforce and the level of check required regulated activity, responsibilities for making referrals the legal duty to refer how barring works and how harmful behaviour can happen outside the workplace.
• The Regional Safeguarding Boards will. Host each session. DBS will add DBS expertise on disclosure and barring.
• After the awareness week DBS says that DBS information, DBS guidance and DBS outreach support will still be available, to everyone.

Wales (Wales Times) November 05, 2026: The Disclosure and Barring Service is supporting Wales National Safeguarding Week 2026, a week-long programme running from 9 to 13 November that brings organisations and professionals across Wales together to strengthen safeguarding awareness, learning and practice.

As reported by GOV.UK, DBS is providing its expertise to a range of informative, awareness-focused activities arranged by Regional Safeguarding Boards across Wales. The service says DBS checks are one part of its contribution to safeguarding, with other relevant subjects depending on a professional’s role, organisation and circumstances, including check eligibility, regulated activity, referral responsibilities and barring.

What Is Wales National Safeguarding Week 2026?

Wales National Safeguarding Week 2026 runs from Monday 9 November to Friday 13 November 2026. According to GOV.UK, the week is intended to bring organisations and professionals across Wales together around safeguarding awareness, learning and practice.

During the week, DBS is contributing expertise on Disclosure and Barring matters to activity organised by Wales’s Regional Safeguarding Boards. GOV.UK states that the boards are organising programmes of activity and learning throughout the week.

How Is DBS Supporting Safeguarding Partners?

DBS is taking part through Owain Rowlands, its Regional Outreach Adviser for Wales. According to GOV.UK, he is contributing expertise to a number of sessions arranged by the Regional Safeguarding Boards.

The confirmed activities include:

• Cardiff & Vale Safeguarding Board: Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS): Fundamentals of DBS, Monday 9 November, 10am to 11am.
• Gwent Safeguarding Board: Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS): Legal Duty to Refer Workshop, Monday 9 November, 2pm to 3pm.
• North Wales Safeguarding Board: Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS): Awareness Session, Wednesday 11 November, 2pm to 3pm.
• Mid and West Wales Safeguarding Board: Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS): Legal Duty to Refer Workshop, Friday 13 November, 9:30am to 10:30am.
• West Glamorgan Safeguarding Board: Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS): Harmful Behaviour Outside the Workplace, Friday 13 November, 1pm to 2pm.

According to GOV.UK, the sessions are organised and hosted by the respective Regional Safeguarding Boards, with DBS contributing Disclosure and Barring expertise as part of its wider Wales National Safeguarding Week activity.

Which Safeguarding Subjects Will Be Discussed?

Across the Regional Safeguarding Board activity, DBS says recurring subjects will include:

• DBS checks and eligibility.
• Workforce and level of check.
• Regulated activity.
• Referral responsibilities, including the legal duty to refer.
• Barring.

According to GOV.UK, the Cardiff & Vale and North Wales sessions cover a broad range of Disclosure and Barring subjects. The Gwent and Mid and West Wales sessions focus specifically on the Legal Duty to Refer, while the West Glamorgan session explores harmful behaviour outside the workplace, risk of harm, barring and barring referrals.

What Do DBS Checks Involve?

DBS checks are one element of the organisation’s wider safeguarding contribution. GOV.UK explains that the type of DBS check available depends on the role, and that organisations can use DBS guidance to establish what type of check they can obtain for a particular role.

GOV.UK also highlights that organisations may have responsibilities around making referrals to DBS. DBS guidance, as referenced by GOV.UK, explains who can make a referral, who has a legal duty to refer, and the conditions that apply.

Will Support Continue After the Week?

DBS says its information, guidance and support remain available beyond individual sessions and beyond Wales National Safeguarding Week.

According to GOV.UK, DBS Regional Outreach Advisers provide dedicated support to organisations within their allocated regions. This support includes help with DBS-related queries, DBS checks, and information about referral duties or powers.

Background of the Development

The Disclosure and Barring Service is a UK government body associated with criminal record disclosure and barring. Its role includes providing checks and guidance relevant to safeguarding, as well as information on referral responsibilities and barring.

Wales National Safeguarding Week is an annual awareness and learning initiative involving organisations and professionals across Wales. The 2026 programme is being coordinated through Regional Safeguarding Boards, which are hosting sessions in their respective areas, while DBS contributes specialist Disclosure and Barring expertise.

Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Safeguarding Professionals and Organisations

For safeguarding professionals, volunteers, employers and community organisations in Wales, the week may improve practical understanding of when DBS checks apply, what regulated activity means, and when organisations may have a legal duty to refer concerns to DBS.

The sessions could also help organisations review their safer recruitment practices and clarify referral responsibilities. For frontline workers and managers, the focus on harmful behaviour outside the workplace, risk of harm and barring may provide a clearer framework for identifying and responding to safeguarding concerns.

Because DBS says its Regional Outreach Advisers will continue offering support after the week, organisations that attend the sessions may have an ongoing route for advice on DBS-related queries, checks and referral duties.