Is your DBS still valid or do you need one to referee?

  • September 30, 2024

Message from: Andrew Lord, Society Safeguarding Officer

Safeguarding and DBS Applications / Renewals

Some of you will find that your Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) accreditation is expiring soon, or may already have expired. For those members who wish to officiate at matches involving players under the age of 18, you must have a valid DBS in place before you can be appointed.

It is no longer a requirement for Match Observers (i.e. Assessors and Coaches), but it is “good practice” from a safeguarding point of view.

So, if you want to renew your DBS accreditation, or obtain one, please then let me know and we can process an application via the online Disclosure & Barring Service. It is worth noting that:

  • All DBS checks must be processed through the RFU. A DBS check from a different organization cannot be accepted.
  • The RFU now subscribes to the GOV.UK Update Service. So, when you renew you can link to this new Enhanced Disclosure and it will automatically renew each year (as long as your personal circumstances do not change).
  • As a pre-requisite to processing an application, you have to complete the online RFU “Introduction to Safeguarding” course. This has to be located and booked via your RFU Game Management System (GMS) account. The course takes about 20-30 minutes to complete and is free of charge. See the instructions below for how to find the course.
  • The Society’s Safeguarding Policies are available for download:

Let me know by email (see WTR or the handbook for my email address) or WhatsApp direct message, if you want an application processed and we can take it from there.

Many thanks,

Andrew Lord

M&DRURS Safeguarding Officer

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Instruction for accessing the RFU’s Safeguarding Course

To access the RFU’s eLearning safeguarding training course you need to log into GMS (this is so that the qualification is shown against your profile when completed).

If you do not know what a GMS account looks like, or you have just forgotten how to log in, then get in touch. I can trigger a “Credentials email” to help you log in and/or reset your password.  If you cannot access GMS or have problems with your account, then please contact GMS Support at  https://help.rfu.com/support/home.

Once logged in to GMS:

  • Click on “Find a Course”
  • Select “Virtual” from the course drop-down box and delete any content in the Postcode box
  • Click on “Search”
  • Click on “Introduction to Safeguarding”, which will be one of the courses listed
  • Click on the “Add to Basket” icon
  • Click on “Checkout” and order the course (note: there is no charge for the course)

An email will be sent to your email address held on GMS with a link to the course (please check your spam/junk folders should the email not appear in your in-box).

If you do not receive the email with access to the course, you can locate the course link within your emails received in your “Communication History” section of your profile on GMS. Once on “Communication History” you click on the far-right arrow to open up and then click on “view on browser” (which is located at the very bottom of the communication message).  This should then open another browser tab with the link for you to click on.

Once you have completed the course your GMS account will be updated with this Learning qualification. It can take 4-5 days for your account to be updated so plan accordingly.