A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check is a background check requested by employers to look at someone’s criminal record. A DBS certificate includes information on past or current convictions, cautions, reprimands, and warnings. Different types of DBS checks are available, depending on the nature of the job and the sector. Industries such as healthcare and finance often require an Enhanced DBS check which looks a lot deeper into someone’s background. Getting your first DBS check is just the start of the process though, as you might have to repeat the checks every few years.
Why Regular DBS Checks Are Important
Certain sectors require ongoing DBS Checks to ensure employees remain suitable for their roles, and if you are employed in this sort of position, your employer will be well aware of it. In the UK, around 11 million people have some form of criminal record, so if you have been in trouble with the law in the past, you’re not alone. DBS checks help give employers mote details of an individual's criminal history, allowing them to make a decision on employing you. Many employers won’t rule out completely hiring someone who has a minor criminal record, as long as you’ve been open and honest with them about your past.
Risk Management
Although most companies are mostly thinking about their customers or people they are working with whey are complying with the laws around DBS checks, properly conducted DBS checks can also help manage risks in the workplace. By verifying the criminal background of each employee, employers can make more informed decisions about an individual’s suitability for specific roles and reduce the risk of violence against colleagues and damage to the reputation of the business. In certain industries, regular DBS checks are legally required. For example, employees in healthcare, education, and finance must undergo regular checks to comply with legal obligations. These sectors prioritise safety, and the law requires people to keep a clean record. Police will also flag to employers when people in occupations such as teaching or nursing are charged with an offence.
DBS Checks on Existing Employees
Employers can perform DBS checks on existing employees, but they must have a valid reason for doing so. This could include a change in job role, such as a promotion, or a new policy which means everyone in the organisation is checked at a given interval. Employers must obtain the employee's consent for the checks, and explain to all workers what they are trying to achieve.
Can Employees Refuse to Undergo a DBS Check?
Employees can refuse to undergo a DBS check, but doing so may have consequences for their employment as for certain roles, these checks are a legal requirement. If you are applying for a job and not already employed with the company, refusing to have a DBS check will mean the employer rejects you in favour of a candidate who will. It’s important to remember though that it’s only a minority of positions which need a DBS check in the first place.