Criminal Record checks – new Update Service
A new service aims to save recruiters, employers and candidates time and money when a criminal record check is necessary for particular roles.
The checks required for candidates and volunteers who want to work with children or vulnerable adults, (or become driving instructors), are now being carried out by the new Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
The Disclosure and Barring Service replaced the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) at the end 2012 and will launch its new Update Service on 17th June 2013.
Individuals can choose to subscribe to the Update Service for an annual fee of £13 which will keep their DBS certificate up-to-date so that they can take it with them from role to role within the same workforce. As a result millions of employees and volunteers will no longer have to apply for a new criminal record check each time they apply for a job.
If an individual has subscribed to the Update Service their employer will be able to go online, (with the individual’s consent), and carry out a free, instant check to find out if the information released on the DBS certificate is current and up to date.
This will be cheaper and quicker for employers but moves the cost of DBS checks onto the worker.
Information released on DBS certificates can be extremely sensitive and personal. Therefore a code of practice for recipients of DBS certificates has been developed to ensure that any information they contain is handled fairly and used properly.
For more information visit the government’s DBS website
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