DBS Checks for International Members

By law, you must take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of the children and protect them from harm. 

Robust procedures must be applied to deter and prevent unsuitable people from working or volunteering in your setting; such as conducting pre-employment checks, seeking references, and obtaining Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks (in England and Wales) or the equivalent criminal/police records checks in your country. 

Find out more about the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) here.

Member criminal record/police records checks

As stipulated in the ISTD Safeguarding policy and procedure (which is available to download here), international members in the following categories must obtain a criminal/police records check under the applicable scheme in their country and submit their certificate to the ISTD for verification. The certificates must be renewed at 3-year intervals as a minimum requirement. The ISTD reserves the right to terminate membership for those who fail to meet this requirement or to suspend their membership activity until the requirement has been met. The categories are:

• Full Teaching Members
• Affiliated Members
• Contemporary Affiliated Members
• Provisional Members (on the path to becoming a full teaching member – taking their DDE)
• Life Members who are actively teaching.

The following member categories may not be required to maintain a criminal/police record check unless undertaking a Regulated Activity:

• Non-Teaching Members (full teaching members who are not actively teaching or entering students for exams)
• Student Members (non-Society-qualified dance students wishing to be affiliated with the Society and wishing to take advantage of membership benefits)

Members within these categories who are on a pathway to moving into Regulated Activity (e.g., studying to become a dance teacher) are asked to obtain a criminal/police record check applicable to their country, in relation to the role they are working towards.

All members should visit the My ISTD area and update their DBS or equivalent certificate details. You can do this by logging in below.