Ultimately this is the decision of the employer to ensure they request the correct level of Disclosure for the work their employees are undertaking. You can find guidance on the four types of DBS checks below, to assist you in ascertaining the level of check most suitable for employees working in your organisation.
Please note:
- 16 is the minimum age at which someone can be asked to apply for a DBS check.
- Self-employed sole traders cannot request their own DBS check. They will need to ask the organisation that wishes to contract their services to request their check.
| What information will show on the Disclosure? | Basic Disclosure | Standard Disclosure | Enhanced Disclosure | Enhanced Disclosure with Barred Lists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who can apply for this level of check? |
Basic Disclosures can be requested for any role, including those adhering to the Cabinet Office Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). |
Standard Disclosures are available for certain specified occupations, licences and entry into certain specified professions e.g. solicitors or some FCA controlled positions. Specifically, these are roles that are exempted from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974) by way of being listed in the Exceptions Order (1975) and subsequent revisions. | Enhanced Disclosures are available for those included in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975, and the Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) Regulations. | Enhanced Disclosures may also include a check of the Children’s and/or Adult’s barred list, if they fall under the definition of Regulated Activity. |
| Unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Spent convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings (subject to filtering)* | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Relevant non-conviction information held by the police | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Children’s and/or Adult’s Barred List check | No | No | No | Yes |
* Please note that ‘protected offences’, e.g. certain old or minor offences, may not be disclosed. Youth cautions, reprimands, and final warnings will not be automatically disclosed on Standard, Enhanced, and Enhanced with Barred Lists Disclosures.
You should verify that you are eligible to request a Standard or Enhanced check before proceeding with the request.
