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One of the first things you might spot when you receive your brand new DBS certificate is that it doesn’t have an expiry date on it. That’s the case whether you receive your check from the Disclosure and Barring Service in England and Wales, Protecting Vulnerable Groups in Scotland, or AccessNI in Northern Ireland.

The phrase “DBS check required” is something you’ll often see on a job advert. In fact, it seems so commonplace that you could easily assume that getting a DBS check is standard for all jobs. That’s not the case. Employers are restricted by law in what they can ask, and what type of checks they can run.

We love our acronyms and abbreviations in the UK. If you’ve seen DBS or CRB on job adverts or in the press, don’t assume that everyone is an expert on the terminology. It’s actually quite complex, so read on for the basics of what it’s all about.

One of the least understood aspects of the DBS check system is the different levels of check available. In short, there are three different levels of checks; basic, standard and enhanced. You don’t get to choose what type of check you’d like to have.

Let’s go back to the very basics. What is this piece of paper called a DBS check, why is it important and why do you need one? There’s a lot more to the DBS system than most people think. If you’re confused, you’re not alone. There’s no such thing as a stupid question, so lets address the most fundamental issues of DBS checks.

There’s a whole army of people up and down the UK volunteering their time for good causes. Many of them volunteer with children, or with elderly or vulnerable adults. When it comes to DBS checks for people who are volunteering there are the same requirements as for paid workers, but with a few important differences.

There’s lots of terminology and jargon associated with DBS checks. One of the terms you’ll come across most often is umbrella body. This is a term used in connection with the application process, rather than having anything to do with the printing of the certificate. If you’re applying for a police records check through an umbrella body, you won’t see much different to applying directly through your employer.

Over the years the system for running police checks on people in the UK has changed several times. You’ll still hear people talking about CRB checks even though the Criminal Records Bureau ceased to exist ten years ago. A further complication is that due to different legal systems, Scotland and Northern Ireland have different bodies responsible for criminal records checking.

Confused about the amount of paperwork you have to complete when starting a new job? It seems that every year another layer of forms is added to the pile, making applying for a job a full time job in itself. Two of the most common checks are right to work checks and DBS checks.

Most people come into contact with the system for checking up on police records when they apply for a new job. There is another situation when you might need a certificate stating your criminal record though, and that’s when you’re thinking of going overseas. You’re not asked to prove your character when going overseas on holiday. This is only a concern for people who are moving overseas, on a permanent basis.