Pool lifeguards play a crucial role in protecting children in sport and leisure facilities. Facility managers have a duty of care to their users and staff, to make sure that all staff are suitable for their role.
Part of the safer recruitment process is to undertake criminal records checks for all eligible posts and roles in your organisation. Within sport and leisure facilities there are likely to be individuals in roles that qualify for a range of levels of vetting checks (DBS for England and Wales, AccessNI for Northern Ireland and PVG for Scotland), from basic to enhanced level and children’s barred list checks.
Are pool lifeguards’ eligible for vetting checks?
Pool lifeguards meet the DBS eligibility criteria, so they’re eligible for an enhanced DBS check, on the basis that the role involves:
- supervising children more than 3 times in a 30-day period, even if other adults are present with primary responsibility for the child
For further information about pool lifeguard eligibility see, section 7 of DBS checks in sport working with children Gov.UK guidance.
Pool lifeguard eligibility criteria for regulated activity
Lifeguards work in an environment where they are expected to supervise children, so are eligible for specific vetting checks, based on how often they work a shift.
- If a lifeguard only supervises children once or twice in a 30-day period, they will be eligible for an enhanced DBS check but without a children’s barred list check.
- If a lifeguard supervises children three or more times in a 30-day period, this is known as regulated activity, and they are eligible for an enhanced DBS check with a children’s barred list check.
Regulated activity with children is defined as carrying out any of the following:
- Teaching, training, instructing, caring for or, supervising children - when undertaken on more than 3 occasions in a 30-day period, and is not supervised by someone else in regulated activity. It does not need to involve the same children.
- Day to day management, on a regular basis of someone who is providing regulated activity for children - in this case this would refer to the lifeguard’s manager.
Pool lifeguards safeguarding responsibilities
Pool lifeguards are responsible for supervising swimmers on a frequent basis. A lifeguard’s safeguarding responsibilities will always include:
- vigilant supervision to make sure everyone using the pool is safe
- intervening to address any hazards or risks, whether in an organised session, lesson, club activity or public swim session
- rescuing people from the water when needed
- spotting hazards and preventing accidents, including intervening to address dangerous behaviour
- administering first aid and carrying out resuscitation when necessary
- giving advice on water safety
Guidance for pool operators
If your pool lifeguards take part in regulated activity with children, then they are a regulated activity provider. This brings legal responsibilities set out in the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006. You must refer to the DBS and provide information to DBS when requested.
Pool operators need to assess what level of supervision should be in place. For further information visit, Royal Life Saving Society UK.