Safeguarding & DBS Information
Safeguarding Resources
NHS Norfolk and Suffolk ICB All-Age Safeguarding Resources, so-called “blue safeguarding cards”.
Designed as a practical, easy-to-use aide-mémoire, the cards support colleagues to recognise and respond to safeguarding concerns with confidence, including where to go for advice and support. They also offer helpful guidance for navigating key safeguarding scenarios. We would encourage teams to take a few moments to explore the ‘blue’ all-age safeguarding card together and display it prominently in consulting rooms, helping to make safeguarding guidance accessible to all staff.
Please note there is one card for Norfolk and one card for Suffolk as safeguarding pathways differ. Please choose the correct document for your pharmacy.
If you have any questions or would like further support, please contact the ICB Designated Safeguarding Team.
National Centre for Domestic Violence
NHSE Pharmacy Guide for Safeguarding
DBS Requirements
Pharmacy owners should ensure that all pharmacy professionals meet the appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) requirements for the services they provide.
Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians
As part of the 2025/26 Pharmacy Quality Scheme (PQS), all pharmacists and pharmacy technicians working at the pharmacy on the day of declaration were required to have undertaken an Enhanced DBS check to support the safe provision of clinical services, with the certificate issued within the relevant three-year period.
A change to the NHS Terms of Service is also planned which will require pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to have regular Enhanced DBS checks. This change is currently expected to be introduced in October 2026. Pharmacy owners should look out for further guidance once the implementation date and final requirements are confirmed.
Locally Commissioned Services
Some locally commissioned services, including sexual health services, may have specific DBS requirements for the pharmacy professionals or team members delivering the service.
Pharmacy owners should check the current service specification for the service they are providing and ensure that all relevant staff meet the required DBS and safeguarding requirements before delivering the service. Commissioners can specify DBS requirements as a condition of providing a locally commissioned service.
For example, the current Community Pharmacy Norfolk & Suffolk information for Norfolk’s sexual health services states that practitioners registering young people aged 13 to 15 for the C-Card scheme must have a valid DBS certificate.
Further information
For up-to-date information about DBS requirements within community pharmacy, including requirements relating to Essential, Advanced, National Enhanced and locally commissioned services, please refer to:
Community Pharmacy England: DBS checks
Pharmacy teams should also refer to the current service specification for any locally commissioned service they provide, as additional DBS requirements may apply.
