What does an Enhanced Disclosure Check Involve?
There are three main DBS Checks: A Basic DBS, a Standard DBS and the Enhanced DBS Check. Depending on the job role you will be doing determines what level of DBS Check you will require.
This is the most detailed DBS check that can be conducted for people doing regulated activity. It will check for:
- Spent and unspent convictions
- Spent and unspent cautions, warnings and reprimands.
- Information that the local police holds on you, which is relevant to the job
- The government’s barred lists, for working with children or vulnerable adult
Why do Some Employers Request an Enhanced DBS Check?
An employer would typically request a candidate does an Enhanced DBS Check if the candidate will be doing regulated activity, working with children or vulnerable adults. The job does need to meet the eligibility criteria before the check can take place. A DBS check can help the employer reach a decision as to whether a candidate is suited to a job role, whether they are trustworthy, safe, and to ensure they are not a risk to people or the business. People who may need an enhanced check include teachers, healthcare workers, support workers, and taxi or private hire drivers. Places that may require an Enhanced DBS Check include schools, hospitals, care homes and social work jobs. Any of these places ‘could’ potentially hire someone with a criminal records, but it would depend on when the crime was committed, and what crime it was. Some very minor crimes could possibly be ‘overlooked’ if a person had proven themselves to be an upstanding citizen and valuable worker ever since; but more serious crimes that showed violence or sexual offences against children or adults would definitely show the person to be unsuited to these job roles.
How Can Someone Apply for an Enhanced DBS Check?
An Enhanced DBS Check cannot be applied for by an individual. Individuals can only request a Basic DBS Check. Enhanced DBS Checks need to be requested by employers. The employee will need to complete the online or paper form, but online is recommended, because it can be processed much more efficiently. Online reduces errors, because if any fields are missing information, it will prompt the candidate to fill them out. There is no risk online, of the form going missing or being delayed in the post. You’ll get notification of them receiving the form and will be able to check on its status. If you have any queries it’s much quicker for someone to respond to an online form, than a paper one. Once it has been processed you will get a DBS certificate.
Are There Other DBS Checks an Employer Can Request?
If the job doesn’t involve the candidate working closely with children or vulnerable people, then an Enhanced DBS Check is not necessary. You may want peace of mind that the person you want to hire is trustworthy though and doesn’t have a criminal record, so they can be trusted with data, money or goods. If so, you could request a Basic DBS, or a Standard DBS Check instead.
Getting an Enhanced DBS Check is not a complicated process for the employer or candidate, and it protects children, vulnerable adults and the general public.
