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Most of us know that there is a level of police criminal record checking for people who want to work as nurses, care staff or teaching children. In England and Wales, these checks are run by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), with sister bodies called Disclosure Scotland and AccessNI in other parts of the UK. What might come as a surprise is that there is a whole host of other occupations which might require a DBS check too.

The UK body charged with police oversight, has uncovered significant deficiencies in vetting standards. These failures have resulted in individuals with criminal records or ties to organised crime obtaining positions in the police force. The review conducted by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) looked closely at police vetting files

DBS checks are available for asylum seekers and refugees, although securing the required forms of identification can cause difficulties for recruiters. For those who are not UK citizens, options for identification documents include a biometric residence permit, a passport, or a UK driving licence card showing the holder’s photograph. Many people who are going through the asylum process have none of these official proofs of identity.

Employers across Bristol and Somerset have recently complained that lengthy waiting periods associated with DBS checks are leading to significant delays in job commencements and creating bottlenecks in recruitment procedures. For roles involving interactions with children and vulnerable adults, usually in education, childcare or healthcare roles, an enhanced DBS check is a legal requirement before the candidate starts employment.

The Disclosure and Barring Service has been in operation for 10 years now, and since the organisation started its work in December 2012 it has processed over 52 million checks. Despite the huge volume of checks which have been processed, many job seekers are still confused about exactly what an employer is allowed to ask, and what they can do with any information provided.

In a competitive job market any negative aspects on your background screening can automatically put your application into the “reject” pile. It’s only natural that applicants want to take steps to try to clean up their background check before the employer runs the screening. But what aspects of your background are employers actually looking for, and how do you present yourself in the best light?

MP's and campaigners are calling for the closure of a loophole in legislation which allows convicted sex offenders to change their names, effectively disappearing from Police records. The latest figures show that between 2017 and 2020, 900 offenders who were required to be listed on the sex offenders’ register went missing, with police not knowing their whereabouts.

The DBS fast track system prioritises applications from people applying for positions in healthcare and social care, ensuring that during the pandemic, the NHS and care homes could get staff into position quickly. Although these changes were supposed to be temporary, the Home Office and DBS has announced that these processes will continue until at least March and will be subject to further review

The DBS has recently launched a high-profile “Making Recruitment Safer” campaign to inform both jobseekers and employers about the service, and to showcase the support which the DBS can offer. Although the level of awareness of the need to apply for a DBS check for specific positions is high, this campaign aims to raise awareness of the other services which the DBS can offer to employers

New guidance has been issued by the Disclosure and Barring Service for people who are thinking about applying for work overseas, particularly in the charity and overseas aid sectors. This is particularly relevant with the recent devastating earthquake in Turkey, which has left thousands in need of overseas help.