What is a DBS check?

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) facilicate DBS checks to support employers to determine the criminal history of their prospective employees during the recruitment process. By having a DBS checks carried out, employers can make informed decisions when recruiting and to prevent people from carring out work roles they would be unsuitable for.

What are the three different levels of a DBS check?

Each of the three levels have different eligibility requirements and will reveal different information about the applicant. Please find the DBS defination of each level of check below.

Basic Check:

The basic check can be used for any position or purpose. A basic certificate will contain details of convictions and cautions from the Police National Computer (PNC) that are considered to be unspent under the terms of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974.

Standard Check:

The standard check is available for duties, positions and licences included in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975, for example, court officers, employment within a prison, and Security Industry Authority (SIA) licences.

A standard level certificate contains details of all spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings from the Police National Computer (PNC) which have not been filtered in line with legislation.

Enhanced Check: 

The enhanced check is available for specific duties, positions and licences included in both the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions Order 1975) and the Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) regulations, for example, regularly caring for, training, supervising or being solely in charge of children, specified activities with adults in receipt of health care or social care services and applicants for gaming and lottery licences.

An enhanced level certificate contains the same PNC information as the standard level certificate but also includes a check of information held by police forces.

Enhanced Check with Barred list checks:

The enhanced check with barred list check(s) is only available for those individuals who are carrying out regulated activity and a small number of positions listed in Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) regulations, for example, prospective adoptive parents and taxi and Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) licences.

Who requires a DBS check?

DBS checks at the standard and enhanced levels can be requested on individuals in a specified role, that are exempted from the rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Theses include roles where the individual will be working with children and/or adults deemed as vulnerable; or have unrestricted access to premises where children or vulnerable adults are presents. For example, Schools and care homes.

In addtion other eligible roles for checks to be carried out may include legal postion, security industry worker of FCA regulated financial roles, including giving advice.

A basic check can be requested for any position or purpose and this can be directly requested online with the DBS.

www.gov.uk/request-copy-criminal-record

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Eligibility of role or activity

The DBS have an eligibility tool to highlight which roles or activities could be elibible for a basic, standard or ehanced DBS check. Please note: The eligibility tool is in its first stage and will be continually tested and improved by the DBS and is not intended to act as legal advice and currently doesnt cover every role. 

www.gov.uk/find-out-dbs-check

if you are unsure of the suitbale level of check, please contact us directly or refer to the DBS guidance www.gov.uk.

Why use an umbrella body?

The umbrella body is a regisitered body that allows other non-regisitered (with the DBS) organisation access to DBS checks.

Our countersignatories have an important role in the DBS process as they are the person within the registered umbrella body who are registered with the DBS to countersign the forms, making a declaration that the position is eligible for the DBS check requested.  

For more information, Please contact us directly or refer to the DBS guidance on www.gov.uk/dbs