Guidance

Quality Assurance Framework, version 10 (QAF v10)

Version 10 of the quality assurance framework (QAF) came into force on 1st April 2026.

• From: Disclosure and Barring Service
• Published: 9 February 2026
• Last updated: 22 June 2026
  Show all updates

  1. 22 June 2026

     AT2 and 3 (QAF V10) - file attachment updated AT3 (QAF V10) - file attachment updated MP3 QAF v10 Local Information Hit Relevance - file attachment updated MP4 v10 Third Party Relevant Access - file attachment updated MP6 QAF v10 PNC Hit Relevance - file attachment updated MP7a and MP7b QAF v10 Disclosure Rationale and Method - file attachment updated GD6 v10 Chief Officer (Delegate) Guidance - file attachment updated GD9 QAF v10 AT3 Section 3 guidance - file attachment updated GD12 QAF V10 MP7A & b guidance - file attachment updated OV1 Overview of the Quality Assurance Framework (QAF v10) - file attachment updated

  2. 8 April 2026

     Representations- Applicant Guidance - file attachment created Representations- Update Service Applicant Guidance - file attachment created

  3. 31 March 2026

     The following files have been uploaded: QAF v 10 AT12 Dispute Form QAF v10 MP7a and MP7b Disclosure Rationale and Method QAF v10 GD7 AT12 Guidance QAF V10 GD12 MP7A & b guidance Representations letter template Representations - Pseudo letter template Representations- Reminder letter template

  4. 5 March 2026

     QAF v10 MP6 PNC Hit Relevance - file attachment created

  5. 3 March 2026

     QAF v10 GD1 Close Matching Guidance - file attachment created QAF v10 GD4 Representations Guidance - file attachment created QAF v10 GD5 MP3 MP6 Guidance - file attachment created QAF v10 AT3 Section 3 guidance - file attachment created QAF v10 GD13 MP4 guidance - file attachment created

  6. 24 February 2026

     QAF v 10 MP5 All Filtering Flowcharts - file attachment created QAF v10 GD8 Youth Produced Sexual Imagery - file attachment created GD14 collaboration guidance - file attachment created QAF v10 Mental Health and Disclosure - file attachment created QAF v10 MP3 Local Information Hit Relevance - file attachment created

  7. 9 February 2026

     First published.

Documents

AT1 v10 Search Rationale Template

MS Word Document, 50.1 KB

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AT2 (QAF V10)

MS Word Document, 48.6 KB

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AT2 and 3 (QAF V10)

MS Word Document, 83.9 KB

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AT3 (QAF V10)

MS Word Document, 76.3 KB

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AT12 QAF v 10 Dispute Form

MS Word Document, 40 KB

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MP1a and b v10 QAF Process Map

PDF, 274 KB, 3 pages

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MP2 v10 Identification

PDF, 137 KB, 2 pages

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MP3 QAF v10 Local Information Hit Relevance

PDF, 241 KB, 2 pages

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MP4 v10 Third Party Relevant Access

PDF, 197 KB, 3 pages

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MP5 QAF v 10 All Filtering Flowcharts

PDF, 491 KB, 10 pages

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MP6 QAF v10 PNC Hit Relevance

PDF, 268 KB, 2 pages

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MP7a and MP7b QAF v10 Disclosure Rationale and Method

PDF, 212 KB, 2 pages

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GD1 QAF v10 Close Matching Guidance

MS Word Document, 37.7 KB

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GD2 v10 Disclosure Text Guidance (QAF V10)

MS Word Document, 69.8 KB

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GD3 QAF v10 Mental Health and Disclosure

MS Word Document, 44.3 KB

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GD4 QAF v10 Representations Guidance

MS Word Document, 42.8 KB

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GD5 QAF v10 MP3 MP6 Guidance

MS Word Document, 45.3 KB

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GD6 v10 Chief Officer (Delegate) Guidance

MS Word Document, 59.1 KB

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GD7 QAF v10 AT12 Guidance

MS Word Document, 46.4 KB

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GD8 QAF v10 Youth Produced Sexual Imagery

MS Word Document, 45.5 KB

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GD9 QAF v10 AT3 Section 3 guidance

MS Word Document, 36.5 KB

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GD12 QAF V10 MP7A & b guidance

MS Word Document, 59.3 KB

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GD13 QAF v10 MP4 guidance

MS Word Document, 33.1 KB

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GD14 collaboration guidance

MS Word Document, 74.3 KB

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GD15 AT1 v10 Guidance and Example

MS Word Document, 51.3 KB

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QA1 - Quality Assurance Regime (QAR v10)

MS Word Document, 64.5 KB

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OV1 Overview of the Quality Assurance Framework (QAF v10)

MS Word Document, 1.53 MB

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Representations letter template

MS Word Document, 36.8 KB

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Representations - Pseudo letter template

MS Word Document, 36.3 KB

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Representations- Reminder letter template

MS Word Document, 31.1 KB

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Representations- Applicant Guidance

MS Word Document, 43.2 KB

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Representations- Update Service Applicant Guidance

MS Word Document, 42.2 KB

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Details

Version 10 of the Quality Assurance Framework came into force on the 1st April 2026.

It builds on the guidance given in version 9 and incorporates all operational updates to version 9. QAF version 10 is the reflective of current case law and the Statutory Guidance