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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.

As basic disclosures can be obtained by anyone, many organisations and public bodies use these as certificates of “good character”, allowing the employer to find out about someone’s current and unspent criminal records. Many councils around the UK are calling for this basic level of checking to be compulsory for anyone applying to work as a local councillor representing their local communities.

Rules about vetting of people who do MOT testing changed in April 2022. Under the new rules, new MOT testers need to apply for a basic disclosure check before they can start carrying out tests. The rules apply to newly qualified MOT testers, testers who have previously been accredited for MOT testing but who have taken a short time away from the profession, and for anyone who has previously been accredited as a MOT tester but who has not tested in the previous five years.

St John Ambulance volunteers are a common sight at many major sports matches, concerts and public events, providing first aid and emergency healthcare. St John Ambulance is a volunteer-led organisation, which is appealing for new volunteers to step forward for training. What commitment is expected from those stepping forward to help out?

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.