Category: DBS News and Advice

Summer is the peak time for sports, as long as the fickle British weather agrees. During the summer holidays, parents across the country will be looking for sports-related childcare for their kids, both to keep them busy and to teach them new skills. A good sports coach plays a huge role in nurturing talent, honing skills, and instilling a passion for their particular sport. Passion only goes so far, and the DBS check system means that anyone who works with children as a sports coach needs a detailed criminal records check.

Not all people who are applying for a new job will come up against driving licence checks but they are becoming increasingly common. Companies have a legal obligation to make sure their staff are driving legally, and this is the case whether their job is wholly driving based, or whether they just use their own car on business purposes occasionally. The whole process of checking driving licences can be complicated and confusing, so if you are not sure why your boss has asked you to bring your driving licence into work, here’s a guide about what they are trying to achieve.

DBS checks, which were previously known as CRB or Criminal Records Bureau checks, are one of the most important tools looking at whether someone is suitable for roles involving children or vulnerable adults such as those with disabilities. There’s often confusion surrounding what information is revealed regarding arrests when applying for DBS checks, and there is a lot of misinformation out there. If you are in the position of needing to apply for any level of DBS check in connection with a new job, then here is our ultimate guide to the impact that an arrest might have on your DBS application.

According to information recently obtained through a freedom of information request, thousands of school employees experienced delays of two months or more in obtaining Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks in 2023. These long delays have been attributed to staff shortages at the DBS, and a huge increase in demand that overwhelmed police forces.

More employers than ever are recognising the need to check out the backgrounds of the people who apply for a job working with them. Doing a bit of work before someone starts a new job can drastically reduce the chances of hiring someone who is unsuitable and can cost the business much more money in the long run. Every company differs in the background checks which they want to run, and usually, more senior positions will require a higher level of background checking. Employers aren’t free to do what they want though, as there are rules they have to stick to. Several companies in Europe have been fined high amounts for collecting information illegally. If you want to avoid financial or reputational damage for your company, or just want to make sure your employer is doing what they should, here are the best practice guidelines for background checking.

Since it was set up back in 2012, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) has helped employers in England and Wales make better decisions about who to employ by carrying out Basic, Standard, and Enhanced DBS checks. While criminal record checks are usually associated with getting a new job, a common question is about whether you can use them to learn about the criminal history of a personal contact, particularly a romantic partner.

A right to work share code is a unique 9-character alphanumeric code generated through the UK Government website “Prove your right to work to an employer: Overview – GOV.UK.” This initiative, implemented by the UK Government, is designed to streamline the process for anyone who is applying for a job in the UK, and who does not have a British passport. It’s an essential part of the identity checking process and being able to complete the required checks online makes things quicker and easier for both employer and prospective worker.

If you’ve ever had any dealings in an official sense with the police, there is the possibility that they may hold some of your personal information on their databases. Anyone has the right to request access to this information for certain purposes, such as employment vetting, identity checking, DBS checks, visa applications, family court proceedings, or just to make sure that the information the police hold is accurate.

On December 27, 2021, the government announced plans to make it easier to use certified digital identity service providers, known as IDSPs by employers and landlords for conducting identity checks. The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is already using the system to allow people who are applying for a criminal records check to verify their identity online rather than having to show physical copies of their documents to their employers.

One of the most basic checks which any company operating a fleet of company vehicles must do is to look at their drivers’ licences. Failing to ensure that employees possess valid driving licences can lead to serious repercussions. Regular driving licence checks should be an integral part of any company’s health and safety policy, particularly where employees drive as part of their job.