Are you overwhelmed by the process of getting your British documents legalised for use overseas? You’re not alone—this can often be confusing and time-consuming. Our expert guide breaks down the key differences between Apostille Legalisation and Consular Legalisation, helping you navigate the process with ease.
Foster Care and DBS Checks
Fostering offers a lifeline to children who cannot live with their birth families for a whole host of reasons, either temporarily or on a longer term basis. Foster carers give them a safe and nurturing environment and help improve their emotional and psychological well-being. There is a real shortage of foster carers throughout the UK and what puts many people off applying is the idea that the application process is very lengthy. Councils and agencies have been working hard to streamline the process, but one of the key parts of any foster carer screening is an enhanced DBS check.
Carers and DBS Checks
Anyone thinking about taking a job in a care home is required to complete an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check in England and Wales, or equivalent level checks through bodies in Scotland or Northern Ireland. These checks are specifically designed for individuals working in roles that involve supporting or caring for vulnerable adults or children, making them a legal requirement in the care sector. Given the regular contact with the elderly, it is impossible to work in a care home without undergoing a DBS check. The same level of checking is required for carers who go into clients’ homes to care for them there.
Could DBS Checks Become Compulsory for MPs?
Local councils across the UK have started to carry out Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks on councillors elected to serve their local area, but DBS checks do not apply yet to those wanting to work in Parliament as a MP. A new proposal from a Labour MP is designed to change this by requiring all incoming Members of Parliament (MPs) and members of the House of Lords to undergo criminal record screenings.
Get an Apostille for your Degree Certificate
It’s that time of year again where thousands of students from all over the UK have completed their studies and are anxiously waiting their final degree results. The next stage is graduation, and then moving out into the world of work. Employers are increasingly using a wide range of pre-employment checks before hiring new staff, and companies overseas may have different requirements to those in the UK.
School Absence Fines and DBS Checks
In England, parents are increasingly facing fines for taking their children out of school during term time without permission. With the government wanting even stricter enforcement, more people than ever are being fined. Although in most cases the fine is paid, putting an end to the matter, for some families, getting a fine for school absence could have lasting consequences, especially if one of the adults is in the position of having to apply for a DBS check when looking for a new job.
International Students and Right to Rent
There are almost 700,000 international students enrolled at universities and colleges across the UK. A British education is considered among the best in the world, and the fees which are paid into university and college funds by overseas students make a huge contribution to the institutions’ budgets. International students need somewhere to live just as students from other parts of the UK do but may have to overcome an additional hurdle in identity checking as part of the Right to Rent checks. As an international student renting a property in the UK, being able to prove your Right to Rent is essential as it confirms to any landlord or agent, or to your university’s own accommodation department, that you are in the UK legally and that they are not breaking the law by renting to you.
Is It Still Worth Taking Up Employment References?
In a world where you can check someone’s credit score or screen their social media profiles with just a few clicks of the mouse, taking up and checking employment references might seem a bit old school. Many employers may question the value of checking references for new employees, and employees wonder what the point is, if they are also having DBS checks and other screening. The other worry is whether or not a company would shy away from giving a negative reference to avoid potential repercussions. There are however many reasons why employment references are still a central part of the employment screening process for many organisations.
Getting a DBS Check Without a Passport or Driving Licence
One of the shortfalls of the DBS check system is that it tends to assume that everyone has a passport, or a photocard driving licence. For individuals who don’t have either of these key identity documents, getting a DBS check is still possible, as there are alternative routes for verifying your identity. Instead of primary documents such as driving licence and passport, alternatives such as a Birth Certificate (issued within 12 months of birth), an Adoption Certificate, or a Biometric Residence Permit (from the UK) can be used.
What Do Employers Do if Someone Fails a Background Check?
Background checks have become powerful tools for employers and hiring managers and are becoming increasingly common in a competitive UK jobs market. These checks help verify information, uncover potential discrepancies, and help an employer reduce the risk of hiring someone who can do serious damage to their business. If you’re applying for a new job your employer should explain whether they are doing DBS checks, credit checks or social media checks.
