Separating DBS Check Fact From Fiction – Myths Exposed
DBS Checks are criminal background checks that are there to protect employers and vulnerable people from harm and misdeeds.
However, there is a lot of misinformation regarding DBS Checks out there, so we’ve put together this blog post to try and dispel some of the most common myths.
So, without further ado, let’s take a look at some DBS Check misconceptions.
Myth 1: You can fail or pass a DBS Check
A DBS Check is not a pass or fail test. It’s merely a search through the criminal record of an individual to reveal any convictions, cautions, warnings, or reprimands, depending on the level of the check.
If something is highlighted on a DBS Certificate, then it is up to the employer whether to appoint the person for the role or not, so it doesn’t mean that they have ‘failed’ the DBS Check.
To make the right decision, the employer should consider the nature of the crime, severity, when it occurred, and how it may impact the role in question, before ruling the applicant out altogether.
Myth 2: DBS Checks have an expiry date
Again, this is not true. DBS Checks don’t expire, they simply become less relevant after time has passed.
A DBS Check is like a snapshot of an individual’s record and is not updated unless another check is done. In other words, if the person is convicted of a crime the day after a DBS Check is done, it will not show on the certificate. In this way, a DBS Check is only 100% valid on the date of issue, not afterwards.
Therefore, employers and organisations are well advised to make sure that they update their employee’s DBS Checks frequently, with most requesting repeat checks within a few years of the last one.
Most employers who request DBS Checks have a policy in place – either a safeguarding policy or HR recruitment policy, which sets out the frequency with which DBS Checks should be updated.
Myth 3: Convictions mean that you won’t get a job
Many people worry that if they have a criminal record they won’t be able to find an employer that will take them on.
This is not the case as the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 states that employers must treat ex-offenders fairly when recruiting for jobs.
Obviously, if the nature of the crime is such that the employer deems the individual unsuitable, they are within their rights to refuse the application, but they can’t discriminate if the conviction is not relevant.
Myth 4: Only regulated activities need a DBS Check
A regulated activity is a role that involves working directly and unsupervised with children or vulnerable adults on a frequent basis. It is true that these roles require employers to make sure that the individual gets an Enhanced DBS Check and barred list check.
However, these are not the only roles that need one. Other roles such as handling finances or being in a position of authority or responsibility may need DBS Checks too. In fact, any individual can request a Basic DBS Check for any purpose or role.
Get a DBS Check online
The fastest and easiest way to apply for a DBS Check is to do it online, through our convenient platform. To get started, simply click the link here.
