Examples of what DBS checks actually show

Most of us have at least heard of DBS checks, even if we haven’t actually had to use one. They’re a common requirement for a lot of roles, but it can still be a little anxiety-inducing to know that your potential employer is looking into your private history.

It can be helpful – both as a worker and as an employer – to understand what these checks are actually looking for. Here, we break it down a little, showing examples of what each of the three main checks might bring up.

The different DBS checks & what they show

It’s important to note that checks carried out by the Disclosure and Barring Service (or DBS for short) aren’t all the same. There are three different kinds – basic, standard and enhanced – each of which will show slightly different information. It’s important to work with an organisation such as Personnel Checks if you’re an employer, to ensure that you’re using the appropriate check for the role in question.

Basic check

The basic check is the least in-depth check available. They can be carried out for any position, and aim to uncover only unspent criminal convictions and reprimands, not those considered ‘spent’ under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Examples of unspent convictions could include a recent conviction for an assault related offence, or a caution for theft. In any of these cases, the offence would need to have been committed within a certain timeframe so that it would not be considered spent. This ranges from months to years, depending on the sentence and the individual in question.

Standard check

Standard checks are one step up from the basic check, and can only be requested for certain roles. They show information on both spent and unspent criminal convictions, warnings and reprimands.

Examples of what standard checks might show would be similar to basic checks, but without the time limitations. Essentially, that means that any cautions or convictions, for any offence – from theft to GBH – would be included in the final result.

Enhanced check

The enhanced check is the most in-depth check available, and like the standard check, can only be requested for certain roles involving contact with vulnerable individuals. In addition to spent and unspent criminal convictions, warnings and reprimands, the enhanced check also includes any information that the police deem relevant to the role in question.

Examples of what this could mean in practice could include charges and investigations that did not result in a conviction, if the matter was of relevance to the role being applied for. The enhanced check can also be carried out with a barred list check, which would look to see if the individual is formally barred from working in certain contexts.

It’s important to understand how DBS checks operate, to ensure that you end up using them properly. They’re an important tool, and can be instrumental in keeping workplaces safe from internal threats. There is a range of resources available to make sure you use them properly, and it’s important to make the most of them.