As a dispensing optician, your recruitment process will involve a comprehensive, statutory background check called a DBS check. Dispensing opticians work in an influential role with close contact with the public.
Under the 1974 Rehabilitation of Offenders Act all those working in public facing roles, including dispensing opticians, must undergo a DBS check.
The strongest type of DBS check is reserved for those who have the most contact with the public and are often left with the public in unsupervised contexts. Dispensing opticians fall into this category so the DBS check for an optician is an enhanced DBS check with barred lists.
This robust CRB check will involve a search for any unspent or spent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings. The DBS will also check if there is any further non-conviction information in existence with relevant police forces or entries on the children’s and vulnerable adults barred lists.
Your DBS check for an optician will be carried out by the Disclosure and Barring Service on behalf of the Home Office. All healthcare professionals are subject to the same level of vetting by the DBS. Both your employer and professional bodies will require this check to be taken.
For more information specific to dispensing opticians visit: the General Optical Council. Alternatively, to learn more about enhanced DBS checks visit: hub.unlock.org.uk/rehabilitationofoffendersact
