Background checks are tools and records used to verify prospective employees’ identities and criminal histories.
A background check is typically used in the hiring process to confirm that an applicant is who they claim to be and whether they have been convicted of a crime. Essentially, it is the first step in hiring a new employee, particularly in jobs that work closely with children, vulnerable adults, IT, and finance.
How Can You Get A Background Check?
Every country will have a different method for obtaining a background check (also known as a disclosure) on prospective employees. Still, they will often come directly from a specific government agency. However, these days there are private companies that can do the legwork in acquiring them. According to the disclosure specialists over at dbschecks.org.uk, who cater to UK-specific background checks, you need to provide two identification pieces that prove who you are and another that verifies your address. With this information, these companies can provide basic checks that cover the most pertinent information.
What Information Do They Provide?
There are three different forms of disclosure in the UK, each providing a deeper set of information than before. Certain jobs will require specific background checks.
Basic Disclosure
As the name suggests, this is the most basic and covers the following:
Unspent convictions: UK law allows sentences to be spent after a certain amount of time. However, if you are imprisoned for four years or more, your sentence will never become spent. There are varying amounts of time for punishment under four years of imprisonment, from 0.5 years up to 3.5 years.
Conditional cautions: These are cautions received from the police that have certain conditions attached to them. This might be paying a fine to community service.
Standard Disclosure
An individual cannot provide this check themselves and is only available via their employer. It is a more thorough check and brings up more information about the person’s past than the basic option. For example, a standard disclosure will show up certain spent convictions and even cautions that may have occurred far in someone’s past. These can also include reprimands and basic cautions.
Enhanced Disclosure
Just like the Standard option, an individual is unable to get this by themselves. This is the highest level of background check and includes all history of convictions, including those spent. Although it shares many of the investigations that a standard check provides, it goes one step further in providing relevant information from local police that could be useful but would have otherwise been overlooked.
Why Do Background Checks Matter?
A comprehensive check on a prospective employee is an essential tool for employers. In some cases, it might be required by law for employees to be checked before working in the position. Typically, the types of employment that need these checks include:
Teachers.
Social workers.
Childminders.
Foster carers.
Medical professionals.
Solicitors.
Barristers.
Veterinary surgeons.
Accountants.
Anyone working in schools, hospitals, or around children.
Government jobs will usually also demand disclosure checks, but they will acquire these in their own way, rather than relying on private companies.
Background checks are an essential part of gaining employment in specific industries. According to the sensitivity of your job and whom and what you will be involved with, you will need to run a background check.
