What types of workers are enhanced DBS checks for?
This is a contributed post.
Background checks are a common requirement in many professional environments nowadays. While they’ve been around for decades now, there can still be some confusion as to who actually needs them.
Here, we take a look at one check in particular - the DBS Enhanced check. After placing it in the broader context of DBS checks, we detail what types of workers the Enhanced checks are for, to help you navigate the job market in a legally compliant manner
The three DBS checks
First, it’s important to note that there are three different levels of DBS checks available.
Basic Check
The basic check is, as the name suggests, the least in-depth check available. It provides information on the applicant’s unspent criminal convictions, warnings and reprimands. The Basic check is unregulated, and can be used for any position.
Standard Check
The standard check is one step up, and it includes both spent and unspent criminal convictions, warnings and reprimands. Unlike the Basic check, the Standard check is regulated, and can only be used for certain roles and positions. Both Standard and Enhanced checks typically need to be applied for via an umbrella body, such as Personnel Checks.
Enhanced Check
The Enhanced check is the most detailed and in-depth DBS check available. In addition to both spent and unspent criminal convictions, warnings and reprimands, the Enhanced check also includes any information that the police believe might be relevant to the role that is being applied for.
Like the Standard check, the Enhanced check is subject to certain regulations, and can only be carried out for certain roles and positions.
Who the Enhanced check is for
The enhanced check is most often necessary in contexts where the role in question will involve ongoing, unsupervised contact with children or vulnerable adults, or in positions involving a certain degree of trust.
In practice, this covers a wide range of professionals, including those working in the care sector, education, healthcare, Taxi drivers, the police, and a range of volunteer positions.
This list is not exhaustive, and it’s important to check whether the role in question might require an Enhanced DBS check. In most cases, this will be the employer’s responsibility, but with recent legal changes to the way DBS checks operate, it can also be the responsibility of self-employed individuals.
Why are Enhanced checks used?
Enhanced checks are typically used to keep people who are in vulnerable positions safe. By making sure that only people with no criminal history are able to work in places like schools and hospitals, it decreases the chances that otherwise preventable incidents occur in these environments.
If you are hiring or applying for a position that might require an Enhanced check, it’s imperative that you have a thorough understanding of how these checks work. For regulated industries in particular, it’s vital to work with background check specialists, to make sure that you both practically protect the people under your care and avoid any potential legal complications.
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