A DBS check is a review of a person's criminal record to determine their suitability for certain roles that involve working with vulnerable people, children, or sensitive information. An improved DBS check shows details similar to those of a standard DBS check, but it will contain more information, which may be necessary for some functions. Standard DBS checks are more detailed than the basic ones, as they will analyze exhausted and unspent convictions. Enhanced DBS verification provides the highest level of disclosure and is suitable for positions that involve regular contact with vulnerable people or important responsibilities. Any employer can request basic disclosures as part of a character judge.
Standard disclosures are more common in the financial and legal industries, while improved DBS controls are prerequisites in many educational and health functions. A standard DBS control is suitable for certain functions, such as security guard. The certificate will contain details of exhausted and unused convictions, warnings, admonitions and warnings found on the National Police Computer, which are not subject to filtering. The update service cannot currently be used for basic DBS checks.
Standard DBS controls can only be requested if you are applying for a job that requires them. Since most people who request standard disclosure go on to work in the court system, financial services, or other positions of responsibility, a long history from years ago may still be relevant. When preparing the certificate, the police go through a filtering process to analyze the person's criminal record and evaluate the type of information based on the role they will perform. Standard database checks are more exhaustive than basic ones and often search the applicant's history for more than just convictions. If the position in question is more comprehensive and needs more than a basic overview, having information on precautions, warnings and admonitions can be useful in ensuring that a person is fit for the job. In addition to the information provided in standard verification, enhanced verification includes any relevant information held by police forces or local authorities.
This may include details of pending criminal cases or non-convicting information that may be relevant to assessing a person's suitability for a specific position. Employers use them to help decide the outcome of any job application. As with a basic DBS check, the report includes previous unused criminal convictions. However, a standard DBS check will also include failed convictions, warnings, and admonitions. At the end of the process, a certificate is produced that includes the relevant information for the DBS verification.
Improved DBS checks are the highest level of criminal background checks available and are only for functions that involve working with vulnerable adults or children. An improved DBS control includes all the controls that standard disclosure provides, with additional controls against the banned lists that are often requested and the information provided by local law enforcement, the Department of Education and Skills, and the Department of Health, where applicable. You can opt for the “DBS Update Service”, which will allow you to keep your DBS certificate up to date at any time, and also allows employers to check your certificate. You can only request an improved DBS check online if your employer has requested it under the Offender Rehabilitation Act of 1974. A DBS check has no expiration date; however, the information is only considered “valid” until the time the check was performed. It is recommended to check with the DBS or the organization that facilitates the verification for the most up-to-date information on processing times. With the help of software such as Access Screening, the process of performing DBS checks becomes more efficient and streamlined, allowing organizations to effectively manage the request and follow-up process. To learn more about what distinguishes basic from enhanced DBS checks and how they can help employers make smarter hiring decisions, keep reading this blog.
