When hiring new employees, several checks need to be carried out, but one of the most important is a DBS Check. Sometimes referred to as a Criminal Record Check, DBS Checks are an efficient and accurate way of establishing if an employee has a criminal past.
Although a criminal past does not mean a person isn’t the right fit for a role, it does allow businesses to ensure that they are making an informed decision when hiring new employees.
However, trying to carry out several DBS Checks at once can mean the recruitment process is halted. Fortunately, there are ways of managing background checks to ensure they remain updated.
How Often Should DBS Checks be Carried Out?
A common misconception among businesses is that DBS Checks have an expiry date. Although general guidance states that companies and organisations should carry out DBS Checks every two years, there are many exceptions to consider.
For example, those working with children and vulnerable adults could require an updated DBS Check every three months to ensure they meet Ofsted regulations. As such, a business needs to consider its infrastructure and find a schedule that meets the company's requirements.
Ensuring a DBS Is Requested Correctly
Although there can be instances when a DBS Check takes several weeks, if a request is made using the wron details, then it could take even longer. As such, businesses and organisations wanting to ensure that their records are kept up to date should ensure all records are kept up to date.
For example, if an employee has recently moved, then this needs to be included on the next request. Furthermore, it is essential that permission is given before a DBS Checks is carried out, otherwise a company could be breaching data protection laws.
What Level of DBS Check is Needed?
When a business carries out a background check, they have three levels of DBS Check to consider. A Basic DBS Check is used for many roles and will disclose any unspent convictions. A Standard DBS Check is used when hiring for positions that have some form of responsibility and shows spent and unspent convictions.
The highest level of DBS Check is an Enhanced Disclosure and is used for those working with children and vulnerable adults, although they can be used for other industries. As well as showing information regarding spent and unspent convictions, an Enhanced DBS will often include checking Barred Lists.
Keep DBS Checks Updated: What Methods are Available?
Although businesses and organisations can apply directly to the Disclosure and Barring Service for DBS Checks, there can be instances when the completion of the certificate takes as long as eight weeks.
Using an external agency for DBS Checks ensures that businesses and organisations can receive digital results in as little as one hour, and a physical copy of the certificate is provided to the business or organisation within 14 days.
