DBS/Equivalent

An employer may request a DBS check as part of their recruitment process. These checks are processed by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

The types of check are as follows:

• a basic check, which shows unspent convictions and conditional cautions
• a standard check, which shows spent and unspent convictions and adult cautions, from the Police National Computer which have not been filtered in line with legislation
• an enhanced check, which shows the same as a standard check plus any information held by local police that’s considered relevant to the role
• an enhanced check with a check of the barred lists, which shows the same as an enhanced check plus whether the applicant is on the adults’ barred list, children’s barred list or both

Applicants (job candidates) can’t do a standard or enhanced check on themselves – you will need to get an application form from the employer who asked you for a disclosure check.

You can request a basic check for yourself.

The type of work you are doing, or will be doing, will determine the level of check that you need.

You can find out more about the DBS check process in this guide.

There are also collections of guidance relating to the following:

• DBS check eligibility
• Filtering*

*Filtering refers to the disclosure rules that explain when criminal record details will be disclosed on a DBS certificate.

Information about the DBS Update Service guidance.

PVG Scheme checks are as follows. 

If you’re going to do regulated work your employer may ask you to apply to join the PVG scheme. Disclosure Scotland carries out criminal record checks when you apply.

It shares the results of these checks with you and the organisation that is providing regulated work. Organisations can use this information to help decide if you’re right for the role you’re applying for.

Disclosure Scotland keeps a list of people who are barred from working with children and protected adults. If the checks show you might be unsuitable for regulated work, you’ll be considered for listing.

For NI, the checks are as follows. 

Basic check

A basic AccessNI check has all unspent convictions or will state that no convictions were found.

Anyone can apply for a basic check. An employer can ask all job applicants to apply for a basic check during the recruitment process.

• Apply online for a basic check
• Apply online for a basic check through a responsible body

Standard check

A standard check discloses an individual’s criminal record, giving:

• spent and unspent convictions
• informed warnings and other non-court disposals from the Police National Computer

Some old and minor convictions and non-court disposals on a criminal record may not be disclosed. Fixed penalty tickets and parking fines aren’t included in a standard check.

Standard checks are only available where the position or role in question is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders (NI) Order 1978. They are not suitable for roles working with children or vulnerable adults.

An individual cannot apply for a standard check. An application for a standard check must be counter-signed by an AccessNI-registered organisation.

You must be 16 years of age or older to get a standard check.

• Apply online for a standard check through a registered body

To read costs of checks, go to:

• Costs and turnaround times

Enhanced check

An enhanced check discloses an individual’s full criminal record, giving:

• spent and unspent convictions from the Police National Computer
• cautions, informed warnings and other non-court disposals from the Police National Computer
• information held by the Disclosure and Barring Service (for positions in regulated activity)
• information held by the police that is relevant to the role applied for

Some old and minor convictions and non-court disposals on a criminal record may be filtered. Fixed penalty tickets or parking fines aren’t included in an enhanced check.

Enhanced checks are normally required where the applicant will work or volunteer in a role providing services to or having close and regular supervision of children  or vulnerable adults.

An individual cannot apply for an enhanced check. An application for an enhanced check must be counter-signed by an AccessNI-registered organisation.

You must be 16 years old or over to get an enhanced check.  The only exception is for family members of an applicant, under 16, where the applicant is registering as a childminder or wants to adopt or foster a child.

• Apply online for an enhanced check through a registered body

This question is completely dependent on the age category you teach. Should you teach minors then a minimum check would be your enhanced check.  Should you work with adults only then your check can be a basic check as standard practice. The aim is to protect yourself by being as up to date as possible with checks, so applying for the update service would be the perfect way to keep your checks annually up to date.  All update services are an automatic renewal/check with an annual fee. The service does not renew the certificate unless requested, should anything change from year to year the system will update the results accordingly.  Please follow the links below to find out more information. 

 GOVERNMENT DBS UPDATE SERVICE

APPLY FOR THE PVG SCHEME

GARDA VETTING SERVICES

Umbrella bodies are certified companies that programmes/companies can use to register for members of staff to be DBS/equivalent checked. For example, as a programme owner with a company, you may register your company with an umbrella body who will then be able to complete your coaches DBS/equivalent checks under your company’s name. We have known coaches to work with a number of umbrella bodies, we would suggest calling the company to ensure that the system they provide is suitable to your needs as a cheerleading and Dance coach/Programme owner. It is down to yourself and your coaches to find the equivalent umbrella bodies. Please note that BGU is not directly affiliated with any one umbrella company. 

Ucheck- https://www.ucheck.co.uk/ 

Atlantic Data- https://www.atlanticdata.co.uk/ 

Government website- https://www.gov.uk/dbs-check-applicant-criminal-record/get-a-standard-or-enhanced-dbs-check-for-an-employee

Post Office- https://www.postoffice.co.uk/identity/dbs-checks

Personnel checks- https://www.personnelchecks.co.uk/enhanced-dbs-checks 

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) helps employers make safer recruitment decisions each year by processing and issuing DBS checks for England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. DBS also maintains the Adults’ and Children’s Barred Lists, and makes considered decisions as to whether an individual should be included on one or both of these lists and barred from engaging in regulated activity.