Do I Need Standard or Enhanced DBS Checks? - A Comprehensive Guide

Any employer can request basic disclosures as part of a character judgement. Standard disclosure is more common in the financial and legal sectors, while improved DBS checks are a prerequisite for many educational and healthcare roles. Legislation prescribes eligibility for standard DBS checks, improved checks, and improved checks with prohibited lists. Recruiters should only request that a person's DBS be inspected when they are legally authorized to do so; they must have the right by law to ask a person to disclose their full criminal record.

This is known as “asking an exempt question”. Improved DBS checks take longer to process because they need to be thoroughly checked. For example, if a person has lived in another city when the police have done the check, they have to contact the local police in that city to confirm whether the person has been convicted or not. If your job involves regularly working with children or vulnerable adults, you'll need to undergo a standard or improved DBS check.

This may need to include a check of the list of prohibited persons for children and adults. Improved checks ensure that a candidate is not prohibited from working with vulnerable groups, including children and vulnerable adults, but can only be requested if the candidate or employee is going to participate in a regulated activity. A standard criminal background check is a comprehensive criminal background check that is used by employers on behalf of candidates to ensure that they are fit for the position in question. A criminal background check is generally not required as part of a standard UK visitor visa application; however, you should be sure to check the specific requirements of your country of nationality.

This occurs when a person requests improved DBS verification to work with children or adults in certain circumstances, such as when they are people receiving medical or personal care, and the verification reveals relevant information that allows considering the inclusion of the person on one of the prohibited lists or both. The 1975 (Exceptions) Order of the Offender Rehabilitation Act of 1974 describes the types of functions that may meet the requirements for standard or improved DBS checks. Improved checks with lists of prohibited persons are only available for a small number of functions; specifically, those listed in the 1997 Police Act (Criminal Record) regulations. The Enhanced Criminal Record Check is the most detailed and comprehensive criminal background and disqualification check that can be carried out in the UK.

A complaint or pending case (i.e., that the applicant has been charged with a crime or crime, but has not been convicted) will not appear in a basic or standard DBS check. An improved DBS check is also suitable for a small number of functions, such as applications for taxi licenses or people who work at the Gambling Commission. The update service is an online subscription for standard DBS checks, improved checks, and improved checks with banned lists, that allows applicants to keep their DBS certificates up to date and allows employers to view the applicant's certificate. A standard DBS check will ensure that employees or candidates have not committed previous crimes, such as fraud or financial misconduct.

It is more detailed than the basic one, as it will analyze unpaid and unused convictions. Only employers and organizations can request greater disclosure of information in circumstances where the role requires stricter controls, such as roles that involve working with vulnerable adults or children. The usual recommendation is to renew a control every three years, but many organizations choose to repeat the checks more frequently, and some require that the checks be carried out every six months. If the volunteer role involves regular, unsupervised contact with children or vulnerable adults, you will need to undergo standard or improved DBS monitoring.

Enhanced with DBS verification of banned lists Each level shows different levels of information about a person's criminal record.