How To Find Out Whether You Need A DBS Check
More and more employers are asking for DBS checks, which are basically a background check to highlight any convictions or offences on an individual’s criminal record.
But you may want to know what kind of jobs need DBS checks ahead of job-searching, so you don’t waste time if you won’t be eligible for the job based on a past misdemeanor.
What are the different levels of DBS check?
Depending on the activities involved in the job, you may need one of the following levels of DBS check:
- Basic DBS check – highlights unspent convictions only. Typically used for roles that have a basic level of responsibility or supervised contact with vulnerable groups of people, such as shop worker or a customer service operative.
- Standard DBS check – highlights spent and unspent convictions, warning, reprimands, and cautions. Typically requested for roles involving occasional contact with vulnerable groups, usually in a supervised capacity, or require a higher level of responsibility, such as accountant, solicitor, etc.
- Enhanced DBS check – highlights the same as a standard DBS check, but also asks the police for any extra relevant information or notes held on your file. It can also be requested with an extra check of the DBS barred list, which is a register of people disqualified from working with children or vulnerable adults. Jobs include teachers, nurses, doctors, etc.
Who is allowed to apply for a DBS check?
If you are aged 16 or older, you are considered to be “of working age”. That means you can apply for a DBS check.
But it’s not quite so simple. The only level of DBS check that you can apply for yourself, without any third party involvement, is a basic DBS check.
To get a standard or enhanced DBS check, a registered organisation must apply on your behalf. The reason for this is that the higher level checks have extra questions that may not be answered honestly or accurately by the individual.
How to apply for a DBS check
Basic DBS Check
If you want to apply for a basic DBS check on yourself, there are two main ways to do it – by post or online.
We can process your application form completely online by filling out our 5 minute application form here.
Standard DBS Check
As mentioned earlier in this article, to get a standard DBS certificate, you need to get it done by a registered third party on your behalf.
Enhanced DBS Check
Similar to the standard DBS check, the enhanced DBS check must be carried out on your behalf. In other words, you cannot apply for the certificate yourself.
Do you need a DBS check?
As a guide, any job that involves working with children or vulnerable adults will require a standard or enhanced DBS check.
If you’re still unsure, the best way to find out is to check in with a potential employer and ask whether you’ll need one or not.
For some job roles, you’ll need to get a DBS certificate in order to get approved or licensed. For instance, if you want to become a driving instructor, chartered accountant, or a taxi driver, you’ll need to get a DBS check carried out.
Even people that work in an environment that has children or vulnerable adults present, such as building contractors working in a school, will need a DBS check.
It is becoming increasingly common for employers to request a basic DBS check before even submitting an application. This helps employers to screen candidates for suitability more effectively. This is common in jobs where handling cash is required, such as a cashier or retail assistant.
Summary
If you’re unsure whether you need a DBS check or not, the best thing to do is to contact potential employers in the area in which you want to work.
For instance, if you’re thinking of becoming a bus driver and you’re not sure whether you need a DBS check, ring some bus operating companies or check out relevant job postings.
It’s pretty quick and straightforward to apply for a DBS check, especially with online portals such as ours making it so convenient. You can apply today and get results within 24 hours.
If you’d like to find out more about DBS checks, whether you need them for certain roles, and how to apply online, then get in touch with one of our team today.
