Home » When ‘Duty to Refer’ Meets Real-World Practice

When ‘Duty to Refer’ Meets Real-World Practice

Published on: by Dionne Sylvester

More than 100,000 people are currently on the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Barred Lists — preventing them from working with children or vulnerable adults.

Each decision starts with a referral from an organisation working in regulated activity.
That means every school, charity, venue, or faith organisation plays a vital role in keeping people safe.

The DBS has published updated guidance on the Legal Duty to Refer — explaining when a referral must be made, what information is required, and how to submit it.

For faith and community settings, this can feel complex — especially when balancing care, confidentiality, and compliance.
Referrals aren’t about blame; they’re about prevention, communication, and making sure information doesn’t stop with one organisation.

At Emmaus Safe, we help leaders and safeguarding teams to:
Understand when and how the duty to refer applies
Build clear reporting systems that meet legal expectations
Develop confidence in managing concerns consistently

Questions for reflection

  • Do your safeguarding leads know when a situation meets the duty to refer threshold?

  • Is your reporting pathway clear, documented, and accessible?

  • How do you ensure learning from referrals is shared safely across your organisation?