What Does a Standard DBS Check Involve?
When you apply for a job, it is highly likely that your future employer will request a DBS Check, so that they can view the report, and use this to help make their decision about whether you are suited to the job role.
There are three main DBS Checks, which include Basic, Standard and Enhanced.
If your employer has requested that you complete a Standard DBS Check, this is the middle check you could have. It is more detailed than a Basic Check; but it is not as intensive as an Enhanced Check.
What Will a Standard DBS Check Look for?
A Standard DBS Check will report if in the past, you have any of the following:
- Spent convictions (this means that after a certain amount of time, the conviction can be ignored, unless it was for a sexual or violent offence).
- Unspent convictions (these are convictions that have not yet reached a defined period of time to be classed as spent).
- Warnings.
- Reprimands.
- Cautions (Warnings, reprimands and cations can be issued by the police or Crown Prosecution Service for committing a minor crime. A caution is not a criminal conviction, but it shows evidence of bad character).
What Occupations May Request a Standard DBS Check?
- Health and Social Care
- Childcare and Education (working with children or vulnerable adults)
- Dentists
- Legal Services (barristers, legal executives, justices’ clerks and officers for magistrates’ courts)
- Financial Services and Accountants
- Locksmiths
- Vets
- Prison or remand centre or detention centre or young offender’s institution staff
The reason for this, is that all the above-mentioned occupational areas require their staff to be trustworthy with either children, vulnerable adults, animals, or with sensitive data, property or money.
How Can You Request a Standard DBS Check?
This is something that your employer will need to request on your behalf. As an individual you are unable to request a Standard DBS Check, individuals can only ask for a Basic DBS Check. Your employer will sort this out, then you can complete the application form online. Completing the application form online has many advantages. You run no risk of a paper application being lost or delayed in the post. You get an immediate number that relates to your application, which can be super helpful to track your application if you should have any queries about it. When you complete the form online, the online system will prompt you if there are fields that you have not yet put information into. DBS will process your form, and you will receive a Standard DBS certificate typically within two weeks. If DBS have any queries about anything on the form, they will contact you.
I am Self-Employed Can I Request a Standard DBS Check for Myself?
An individual cannot request a Standard DBS Check, this is because an employer must request one on behalf of a prospective employee. If you are self-employed a DBS Check is not necessary to help you to decide whether to employ yourself. As an individual you can request a Basic DBS check though.
To conclude, your employer will need to request the Standard DBS Check for you, which you can complete online. A Standard DBS Check is done for many different occupations. It will check for unspent and spent convictions, warnings, reprimands and cautions.
