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Very few employers are willing to take on a new worker without any checks whatsoever. Business owners want to protect their business, and to limit the risk to their customers of hiring a poor worker. Checks might just involve phoning a previous employer to get a reference, but background checking can be much more extensive.

Thousands of young people across the UK will be getting ready to head off to University in a couple of months. There’s lots to organise – accommodation, finding new flatmates, books and coming up with a back-up plan in case the A-level grades aren’t as expected. Should you be adding a criminal record check onto the list?

At a time when the news bulletins are full of rising food and fuel prices, and inflation hitting a 40-year high, it is unusual to hear about something which is reducing in price. But that is exactly what has happened at the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Getting a DBS check into your criminal record is a standard part of starting many jobs, but there is a restricted list of occupations which are eligible for a standard or enhanced DBS Check. Do hairdressers and salon staff qualify for this more in-depth checking?

A recent switch in the Disclosure and Barring Service’s policy means that people applying for a DBS certificate now have to prove their identities digitally. But what exactly is a digital identity, and how do you go about getting one?

All players have to start somewhere, and clubs invest substantial sums in running football academies, training the new generation of young players. These boys, some as young as 14, are usually hosted by families who live close to the club’s training grounds. Boys live as part of the family, having their own bedroom but eating meals and socialising with other family members.

We’re all used to the idea of people in positions of responsibility having to go through a criminal record check before starting work but what about our nearest and dearest? Can you ask for a DBS check on your sister’s new boyfriend after hearing rumours that he has a violent past?

The first thing checked by parents who are choosing a school or childcare centre is often the OFSTED ratings. OFSTED is the government body for England and Wales which assesses the safety and quality of provision for schools, childminders, nurseries and similar establishments.

Most parents are aware of the fact that people who look after children in nurseries or in hospitals require a criminal records check. However, there is a lot of confusion about what happens in a situation where the parents are present along with their children. Do staff or volunteers still need a DBS check in these situations? It’s a fairly complex picture, so let’s go through it step by step.

We’ve all seen the images from British airports this summer, with queues of holiday makers waiting to collect their bags or have their passports checked. And you could argue that those are the lucky ones – the people who have made it to the airport without their flights being cancelled. The disruption is being put down to difficulties in hiring new staff after the pandemic, but what is really going on?