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If you are applying for a position working in adult social care, you will already know that DBS checks are crucial for ensuring safety and compliance with legislation. A DBS check, issued by the Disclosure and Barring Service in England and Wales, is a check on someone’s criminal record, and the idea is to make sure that the people applying to work with some of the most vulnerable people in society are trustworthy and reputable. There are different levels of checks available, and whether the roles are paid or voluntary, understanding the appropriate level of DBS check is essential.

Fraud in the recruitment process is nothing new but has been rapidly emerging as the main threat in the hiring process. HR teams and employers are trying to implement procedures to catch the fraudsters and prevent the costly and potentially hazardous errors of employing someone who claims to be something they are not. However, as fraudsters come up with increasingly clever methods to get around identity checking systems, managing and addressing these ongoing risks is becoming increasingly challenging.

An apostille is an official certificate issued by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the United Kingdom, verifying the authenticity of a signature or seal on a document for international use. While it confirms the authenticity of the document, it does not validate its content. If you are applying for a position overseas or need to verify your identity with overseas governments to take up a place at university or start a new job, you may well have to go through the Apostille process.

Landlords and letting agents in England have seen a significant surge in fines due to non-compliance with Right to Rent regulations. Government figures reveals a staggering 405% increase in penalties last year, totalling £151,480 compared to £29,960 the previous year. The number of fines issued also skyrocketed from 32 in 2022 to 155 in 2023.

Changes in the rules around getting a taxi driver licence are not news, and it seems that over the last few years hardly a month has passed without some new initiative to tighten up the sector. From the passenger’s point of view this is all good news, as we are now safer than ever getting into the back seat of a taxi. However, some drivers have raised concerns that the increasing level of administration and DBS checks is causing them so much expense that it could put them out of business entirely.

New research from business insurance companies suggests that over a third of employees who use their privately owned or cash allowance car for business purposes have never been requested by their employers to provide evidence of a valid MOT (35%) or insurance policy (32%). Additionally, 31% have never been required to show a valid, clean driving licence to their employer.

A recent change in the law is set to significantly reduce the time individuals with criminal convictions are legally obligated to disclose them to potential employers after completing their sentences. These changes aim to eliminate barriers to employment post-prison and contribute to the reduction of re-offending rates. Any employer can ask an applicant whether they have any convictions which are not considered spent under rehabilitation laws, and this question is separate to any DBS checking process, which is usually carried out for specific types of roles.

Right to Rent has been around for ten years, and in that time the rules surrounding checking the residence status of people wishing to rent property in the private sector have changed several times. In essence, these are identity checks, designed to make sure that anyone who is a tenant has the legal right to be in the UK. The government has recently promised that changes to the “Right to Rent” rules will simplify the process for letting agents and landlords to verify tenants’ status. Despite the recent announcement of a general election, these changes are still likely to take effect and will mainly have an impact on people from the European Union who have found that their status may have changed after the Brexit negotiations.

Work experience is a short-term employment placement in a workplace, typically lasting less than 15 working days and usually for a week. Work experience is unpaid, although reasonable expenses may be covered by the employer or host company. Work experience is typically undertaken by students or school pupils to help shape their ideas about what career they might go into after completing their education, or to give them practical experience which they can add to their CV.

One of the main things which is looked at during background checks before starting work is your work experience and history in employment. For many businesses, this is the most important check after identity checks to verify your right to work in the UK. Your work history is seen as an important indicator of your reliability, skills, and work ethic. But how far back with they actually look?