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It has been 10 years since the Disclosure and Barring Service in England and Wales started their work checking criminal records. The Disclosure and Barring Service, or DBS, replaced the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) who handled vetting before 2012. Although it is still fairly common to hear people talking about applying for a CRB check, or waiting for a CRB certificate, this is old terminology.

A collective of background checks is often referred to as a pre-employment check and includes credit checks and reference requests. However, one of the most common forms of background checks in Scotland is a disclosure, which assesses the criminal background of job applicants.

People searching for a job will be familiar with background checks, as will businesses hiring new employees. However, there can be several types of background screening to consider. A DBS Checks details any criminal history of an applicant, but the details shown can depend on the role a person is applying for.

When applying for a job, there are often a series of background checks that must be undertaken beforehand. Many assume that requesting their own disclosure is the fastest way of completing background checks, and in some instances, this can be true. However, the type of disclosure needed can vary, so it won’t always be possible for people to request their own disclosure.

List 99 was a register used and managed by the Department of Education and Skills and held the names of individuals barred from working with children. Although people still cite List 99 Checks, they stopped in 2002 and were replaced by the Children’s Barred List.

A DBS Check will always show serious offences when conducting a background check. However, a certificate will not show some convictions for several reasons. The following looks at how offences are detailed on a DBS Certificate and instances where results will be filtered.

Several checks need to be taken when hiring an individual for a role. In addition to a credit check, those applying for a position will also require DBS Checks and references. Obtaining this information can take time, especially if incorrect details are given during the recruitment process.

Many businesses already know the importance of checking a person’s criminal background and run frequent background checks to ensure they’re making the right hiring decision. However, there can be instances when the process is delayed.

There can be many instances when more than one DBS Check is needed, and businesses carrying out background screening themselves can find the process time-consuming. The following is an overview of how many DBS Checks can be carried out at any one time and how businesses should update background checks often.

Background screening is an essential component of many human resource departments, but there can be times when the terminology used leads to confusion. One of the most commonly asked questions regarding background checks is whether Disclosure Scotland and DBS Checks are the same.