Difference between Enhanced and Standard DBS Checks
What’s the difference between Enhanced and Standard DBS Checks
With several different types of DBS Checks, you need to ensure that you know the difference between them – getting it wrong could lead to compliance and safeguarding issues. We’ll review the difference between two types of DBS checks – Standard and Enhanced – for employers or individuals working with vulnerable groups.
Key Takeaways
- Standard and Enhanced DBS Checks provide varying levels of information and eligibility criteria.
- Barred List Check involves examining individuals prohibited from working with vulnerable groups.
- MyVetting.com provides secure online DBS checks at different price points, offering both Standard and Enhanced DBS checks which are key for legally safeguarding vulnerable individuals.
Understanding DBS Checks:
DBS checks are background checks conducted by the Disclosure and Barring Service to ensure the safety of vulnerable individuals and help employers make informed hiring decisions. They come in three primary levels: Basic, Standard, and Enhanced. The information included in each type of criminal record check (DBS check) varies, ranging from individuals’ unspent convictions in a basic check to spent and unspent convictions, cautions, and reprimands, as well as other relevant information held by local police forces. The type of check required depends on the nature of the role, level of contact with vulnerable individuals, and specific regulations. DBS checks have replaced CRB checks.
Diving Into Standard DBS Checks
A Standard DBS check furnishes information regarding spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and warnings held on the Police National Computer. This type of check, also known as criminal record checks, is typically required for positions with higher responsibilities, such as solicitors, barristers or accountants. It reveals all cautions, warnings, and reprimands, as well as any previous unspent criminal convictions held on a person’s criminal records in England and Wales and convictions in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The occupations that require a Standard DBS check are set out in the Exceptions Order to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The Standard DBS check serves as a tool for employers assessing a candidate’s suitability for positions demanding high trust levels or involving work with vulnerable individuals.
Before initiating a Standard DBS check, employers must confirm the job role’s eligibility for such a check. Failure to adhere to the relevant laws and regulations could lead to serious repercussions such as legal liability, issues of discrimination, and damage to reputation. More information regarding the eligibility of job positions for a Standard DBS check can be obtained from the UK government website.
Diving into Enhanced DBS Checks
An Enhanced DBS check is a type of background check that discloses spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and other pertinent information held by the local police force, particularly for roles specified in regulations. This level of scrutiny is typically required for positions that involve caring for, training, supervising, or having sole charge of children or vulnerable individuals. The eligibility for an Enhanced DBS check is determined by the nature of the role and the level of responsibility involved.
Only roles specified in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions Order 1975) and the Police Act 1997 regulations qualify for an Enhanced DBS check request. These roles include:
- healthcare professionals
- social workers
- teachers and teaching assistants
- individuals working with children or vulnerable adults
- those engaging in regulated activities involving close, direct, unsupervised contact.
What are Barred List Checks?
Barred List Checks are an integral part of Enhanced DBS checks. Their purpose is to verify whether an individual is legally barred from working with vulnerable groups. The Enhanced Barring service conducts a check against a list of individuals who are legally prohibited from working with children and vulnerable adults.
The Autobar process involves the following steps:
- An individual recently cautioned or convicted for a severe offence is considered for immediate barring.
- The individual may be given the chance to present representations.
- These barring representations serve as a platform for individuals to argue why it would be inappropriate or excessive for the Disclosure and Barring Service to include them on one or both of the Barred Lists.
Key Differences Highlighted
The key differences between Standard and Enhanced DBS checks include the level of information disclosed, eligibility criteria, and the roles they apply to.
While a Standard DBS check reveals all criminal history, including cautions, warnings, reprimands, and convictions held on record, an Enhanced DBS check goes a step further, revealing spent and unspent convictions and cautions, as well as inclusions on the children’s and/or adults’ barred lists if requested, and additional information held on local police records.
The requirements for a Standard DBS check are less stringent than those for an Enhanced DBS check. As an employer, you must ensure that the job role is eligible before requesting a Standard DBS check, with further details on eligibility available on the government website.
On the other hand, Enhanced DBS checks are typically required for positions that involve caring for, training, supervising, or having sole charge of children or vulnerable individuals, with eligibility determined by the nature of the role and the level of responsibility involved.
Employment opportunities can be influenced by the type of DBS check required, as some roles demand specific levels of background checks. For example, a candidate with a Standard DBS check may be considered for a role requiring an Enhanced DBS check, but the employer may still require the individual to undergo an Enhanced DBS check as part of their application process. Not having the necessary level of DBS check for a particular job role could result in:
- heightened risk of harm
- legal responsibility
- discrimination issues
- non-adherence to the law
Eligibility Criteria for DBS Checks
Eligibility for DBS checks depends on the nature of the job, level of contact with vulnerable groups, and specific regulations. There are no eligibility criteria for a Basic DBS Check, as anyone can purchase a Basic DBS Check for themselves at any time.
The eligibility for a standard DBS check is determined by specific job positions, professions, occupations, activities, and licences. Comprehensive guidelines detailing these criteria can be found on the government’s DBS website.
Regardless of where the work will be carried out, individuals residing in England or Wales are eligible to apply for an enhanced DBS check. Certain professions, like teaching or healthcare, usually require an enhanced check, with more details available on the government’s website. An Enhanced DBS check is essential for those working with children or adults in specific circumstances, such as those receiving healthcare or personal care. It’s also relevant for a limited set of other roles, like applying for a taxi licence or working in the Gambling Commission.
Impact on Employment: Standard vs Enhanced
Both individuals and employers need to be vigilant about the potential repercussions of not having the necessary level of DBS check for a certain job role, as this could lead to severe consequences, including:
- Heightened risk of harm
- Legal liability
- Discrimination issues
- Non-compliance with the law
Both individuals and employers must ensure they have the appropriate level of DBS check for their roles to maintain trust, reputation, and legal compliance.
While it’s generally acceptable for an individual with a Standard DBS check to apply for roles that require an Enhanced DBS check, the employer may still require the individual to undergo an Enhanced DBS check as part of their application process. By understanding the differences between Standard and Enhanced DBS checks and ensuring that the appropriate level of check is in place, individuals and employers can collaborate to create a safer environment for vulnerable individuals and maintain compliance with the law.
MyVetting – How long does a DBS take?
The type of DBS check dictates the variations in processing times and costs. Here are the costs and processing times for each type of check:
- Basic DBS check: processing time 48 hours
- Standard DBS check: processing time may vary from 5 – 10 working days.
- Enhanced DBS check: processing time may vary from 5 – 10 working days.
MyVetting.com offers efficient and secure checks powered by Digital Identity Validation Technology (IDVT). With more than two decades of industry expertise, MyVetting.com is recognised as an approved provider by the UK Home office.
The IDVT system, integral to the DBS checks application process on MyVetting.com, employs digital tools and processes to authenticate applicants’ identities, including digital validation of their identity documents.
MyVetting.com takes the utmost care to ensure data privacy during the application process by storing all personal information in an encrypted, secure, password-protected, and multi-factor authentication-access environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
When would I need an enhanced DBS?
An Enhanced DBS check is needed for jobs such as those working with children or adults in certain circumstances, like those in receipt of healthcare or personal care, as well as small number of other roles such as taxi licence applications and people working in the Gambling Commission.
Does an enhanced DBS show everything?
An enhanced DBS check contains all convictions and cautions, however some convictions or cautions may be subject to filtering and won’t appear on the enhanced disclosure. Additionally, only information deemed relevant by the Chief Police Officer will be included in the check.
What will fail an enhanced DBS?
A DBS check cannot be failed as it simply provides information about an individual’s criminal record, which employers use to decide a candidate’s suitability.
What is a dbs check?
A DBS check, or a Disclosure and Barring Service check, is the process of analysing and recording an individual’s past criminal records including cautions, warnings, reprimands and convictions to determine their suitability for certain roles. It is often used by employers to decide whether a person is suitable to work with vulnerable individuals such as children.
What are the three primary levels of DBS checks?
The three primary levels of DBS checks are Basic, Standard and Enhanced, providing thorough background screenings for employers.
