Background screening has become a standard part of many job applications in Scotland, but some people need clarification on what background checks are carried out and what each review consists of.
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.
The details shown on a disclosure can depend on the type of check requested. The following is an overview of the different certificates available from Disclosure Scotland and the type of details each disclosure shows.
Basic Disclosure
A basic disclosure shows unspent convictions, crimes for a person, are still in a rehabilitation process. Individuals can request their own Basic Disclosure, although businesses and organisations can apply on the person’s behalf.
Standard Disclosure
Those who require a Standard Disclosure will find that spent and unspent details, in addition to any cautions and reprimands, the disclosure will also show any details held on the Sex Offenders Register.
Enhanced Disclosure
An Enhanced Disclosure is the highest level of criminal record check and will show all details of other background checks but will also include checking the Children’s and Adult Barred List.
Other Requirements in Scotland
Those working with children or vulnerable adults may also need to join the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme. The scheme ensures that those working with children and adults are permitted to do so, giving confidence that the necessary background checks have been made when undertaking regulated work.
Who Views the Completed Disclosure?
Understandably, disclosures can seem invasive to some people, but it is essential to remember why background checks are needed. When requesting a disclosure, businesses are bound by rules that ensure the information is only used for the intended purpose and is not disclosed to any unauthorised third parties.
Guidance regarding disclosures also dictates that records cannot be kept longer than necessary, meaning that documents are not retained longer than six months when no job offer is made.
What Is the Easiest and Quickest Way of Completing a Disclosure?
A business can take several steps to ensure the completion of a certificate is as fast as possible. Firstly, companies should make a disclosure request online and ascertain that all the information captured from the application is correct.
It is also advisable to enlist the service of a professional agency when completing disclosures in Scotland, as this allows for same-day results and real-time tracking of paper-based certificates.
Furthermore, cloud-based results ensure that human resource departments can easily find certificates, regardless of how many have been processed.
