Employment Pre-Screening & DBS Checks
Updated: Apr 20, 2022
All large UK organisations and even smaller companies invest time and money in checking your background before they hire you. This includes a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and other employment pre-screening checks, including:
Education and Credential Verifications
Employment History Verification
Basic DBS Check
Standard DBS Check
Enhanced DBS Check
Education and Credential Verification
Education Checks validate a candidate’s educational history, confirming establishments attended, dates of attendance, courses studied and qualifications gained. Education Checks are a vital part of the pre employment screening process and can check both secondary and higher education, confirming GCSE, A-level and degree qualifications.
Employment History Verification
Employment Reference Checks validate a candidate’s employment history, confirming the position held, key responsibilities, the dates of employment and any additional training or qualifications received.
Basic DBS Check
Basic DBS checks search for any unspent criminal convictions for individuals as well as organisation staff. You would usually be told in the job description if a DBS check is required.
Standard DBS Check
The Standard DBS Check searches the applicants record for any - cautions warnings, reprimands or convictions. Local police are also able to add any information they have on the applicant which they feel is relevant. An individual cannot access a Standard Check themselves. This must be applied for by the organisation.
Enhanced DBS Check
The Enhanced DBS Check searches the applicants record for any - cautions, warnings, reprimands or convictions as well as searching the adult or children's barred lists to check that the applicant is suitable to work with these groups. Local police are also able to add any information they have on the applicant which they feel is relevant.
An individual cannot access an Enhanced check themselves. This must be applied for by the organisation the individual is working for. Deciding which level check someone requires for a specific job role can become somewhat obscured as there are many prerequisites that fall into each level disclosure and this depends largely on the job title and the environment that the person will be working in. The DBS eligibility tool is predominantly for companies who are registered in England and Wales and make employment decisions. It allows employers to determine which type of DBS check they should obtain for their employees, but it also allows an individual to obtain a basic check if requested by an employer.
Lee Woodrow is a CV & LinkedIn Optimisation Specialist and helps contractors, senior job seekers & small business owners to land interviews and opportunities fast. He is an ex-military instructor, has 14 years of corporate experience, understands advanced sales techniques and is an Accredited CV Writer.
