Guidance

Quality assurance framework, version 9 (QAF v9)

Version 9 of the quality assurance framework (QAF) came into force on 17 June 2013.

• From: Disclosure and Barring Service
• Published: 22 January 2014
• Last updated: 15 November 2023
  Show all updates

  1. 15 November 2023

     AT12 Dispute Result Form, MP5 v9 PNC Filtering, GD2 v9 Disclosure Text Guidance (August 2022) and GD7 AT12 Dispute Result Form Guidance have been updated.

  2. 21 August 2018

     Various QAF attachments updated to August 2018 versions.

  3. 30 May 2018

     Updated Disclosure Representations Applicant Guidance added.

  4. 8 December 2017

     Various Quality Assurance Framework (QAF) attachments updated with newer versions.

  5. 31 October 2017

     Multiple QAF attachments have been replaced with updated versions, and a new attachment (GD9) has been added.

  6. 19 December 2016

     Updated versions of AT2 and AT2/3. Added a new document GD8 Sexting guidance.

  7. 2 November 2016

     Security markings updated on the AT2, AT2/3 and AT3 documents.

  8. 28 July 2016

     Added quality assurance regime for police disclosure units. Also added AT12 dispute result form and guidance.

  9. 5 October 2015

     Updated GD2, AT2 and AT3 documents. Will help police forces with the 6c template, the free text not being neutral enough in tone; whilst still meeting the basic objective of recommendation 6c.

  10. 19 January 2015

      Disclosure representations applicant guidance updated. Clarified information about the threshold for disclosure compared with the threshold for conviction in a civil court.

  11. 11 September 2014

      References to standards and compliance unit remit and operation clarified.

  12. 9 April 2014

      Updates to the MP3 and MP6 documents. Details listed in the change log document.

  13. 25 March 2014

      Updated documents to remove references to quality assurance framework (QAF)/stage 1 barring referrals withdrawn. Added an updated change log.

  14. 14 February 2014

      Added a new version of the AT3 form

  15. 22 January 2014

      First published.

Documents

Quality Assurance Framework (QAF) v9 - Quality Assurance Regime

PDF, 96.9 KB, 2 pages

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Quality Assurance Framework (QAF) v9 - Change Log

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Quality Assurance Framework (QAF) Overview (OV1_v9) - September 2014

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DBS New Services Processing Guidance (September 2014)

PDF, 165 KB, 4 pages

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AT1 v9 Search Rationale Template

MS Word Document, 52 KB

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AT1 v9 Guidance and Example

PDF, 345 KB, 9 pages

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AT2 v9 (December 2016)

MS Word Document, 69 KB

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QAF v9 AT2-3 (August 2018)

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QAF v9 AT3 (August 2018)

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AT12 Dispute Result Form

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MP1 v9 QAF Process Map (March 2014)

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MP2 v9 Identification

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MP3 Local Information Categories (July 2017)

PDF, 377 KB, 5 pages

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MP4 v9 Third Party Relevant Access

PDF, 209 KB, 2 pages

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MP5 v9 PNC Filtering

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MP6 v9 PNC Hit Relevance (April 2014)

PDF, 473 KB, 6 pages

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MP7a and MP7b v9 Disclosure Rationale and Method (March 2014)

PDF, 514 KB, 7 pages

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GD1 v9 Close Matching Guidance

PDF, 116 KB, 3 pages

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GD2 v9 Disclosure Text Guidance (August 2022)

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GD3 v9 Mental Health and Disclosure

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GD4 v9 Representations Guidance

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GD6 v9 Chief Officer (Delegate) Guidance (August 2018)

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GD7 AT12 Dispute Result Form Guidance

MS Word Document, 54 KB

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GD8 v9 Sexting Guidance

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GD9 AT3 Section 3 Guidance

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Disclosure Representations Applicant Guidance

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Representations Letter Template

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Representations Pseudo Letter Template

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Representations Reminder Letter

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Representations: Update Service Applicant Guidance

PDF, 256 KB, 6 pages

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Details

QAF version 9 was developed to support the DBS Update Service. QAF version 9 is built upon the foundations of version 8, which reflected the changes brought about by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012.

Version 9 also includes process maps and general guidance for considering offences which may be removed by the filtering of ‘old and minor’ convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings.