Blog

One of the newer roles in the NHS is that of social prescriber, so it’s perhaps understandable that the exact nature of the role and duties are widely misunderstood. If you’re applying for a role as a social prescriber, or have responsibility for recruiting one, here’s everything you need to know about DBS checks and how they might apply in your situation.

Many jobs require a DBS check, and in order to establish whether an individual caution or conviction will appear on the certificate, it’s important to understand the system in general terms and the three levels of disclosure check. In the most basic terms, what shows on your DBS certificate will depend on which level of check you have had.

There are many reasons why someone would be looking for temporary, or casual work rather than a full-time, permanent position. Students looking for part time work, people who are between contracts, or people who are looking for extra work to boost their income on a short-term basis. Recruiters who want to fill a vacancy quickly want someone who can start almost immediately, with the minimum of paperwork. So, what happens with casual roles requiring DBS Checks?

A recent move by authorities in Guildford could drastically change the way in which taxis operate in the borough, and how drivers are licenced. New requirements being introduced mean that drivers will undergo a DBS check twice a year, following guidance set out by the Department of Transport. The council will also require all licenced black cabs and minicabs to be fitted with CCTV equipment, and there will be in addition extra training and vetting for both people running private hire companies, and their staff. More stringent rules about emissions and pollution standards should also ensure that the cabs on the road are cleaner and less polluting than ever to.

One of the most important concepts in DBS checking is whether or not the occupation is exempt, or whether the employer is allowed to ask exempted questions. This topic is related to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, and it might affect anyone who has had a brush with the law – however minor – in the past. It’s not as complicated as it might initially appear.

Anything between a quarter and a third of adult men in the UK have a criminal conviction. In most cases these are for very minor issues, and a “one-off” rather than a pattern of wider offending. Many people who do have a criminal record worry about how it will affect their job prospects going forward. Do you really have to still tell employers about a teenage shoplifting conviction when you’re in your 40s? Unfortunately, the answer’s not as straightforward as you might think.

One of Birmingham’s most senior police officers is leading calls for new regulation on who can run hostels for tenants who are often vulnerable.

Unlike other forms of residential care, where owners and staff require enhanced disclosures, people who operate multi-occupancy housing for other vulnerable tenants require no checks at all. Calling on the government to close this loophole in the legislation, Chief Superintendent Steve Graham raised concerns that the current situation made it all too easy for criminals to get involved in purchasing and running hostel-style accommodation, with the aim of exploiting the vulnerable.

Recent research by Disclosure Scotland – the organisation which provides disclosure checks north of the border – has revealed that during the pandemic, 74% of jobseekers have been scammed into applying for jobs which are not genuine. Forbes magazine goes further, claiming that for every genuine job vacancy there are as many as 60 scam postings. How do you avoid becoming one of the scam victims?

Police checks are a standard part of applying for many positions in the UK and most job seekers are aware that they will have to go through some checking process when applying for positions involving a degree of responsibility or to work with children or vulnerable adults. There is a lot of confusion around the process though, and part of the problem is that the jargon and terminology changes on a regular basis. So, what exactly is the difference between a CRB check and a DBS check?

The SIA is the security industry body, set up 20 years ago to improve standards, and turn an industry with a poor reputation into something altogether more professional. The SIA covers not only door supervisors, but also a range of associated industries such as cash in transit, security guarding and people managing and operating CCTV systems. Anyone wishing to work in one of these roles will need a SIA licence, which involves a DBS check on criminal records. So, does this mean that people with a conviction in their past are wasting their time applying?