An enhanced DBS check shows your complete criminal record history, including both spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and warnings. You’ll also find relevant information from local police forces and verification against barred lists for working with children or vulnerable adults. These checks are mandatory for positions involving frequent contact with vulnerable groups, and they require your explicit consent before processing. Understanding the full scope of what’s disclosed, how the filtering system works, and your rights to dispute inaccuracies will help you move through this essential safeguarding requirement confidently.
Key Takeaways
- Enhanced DBS checks reveal both spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and warnings from an individual’s criminal history.
- Each disclosed entry includes the offence date, court details, description of the offence, and the sentence imposed.
- Checks verify barring list status for children and vulnerable adults, indicating prohibition from working in regulated activities.
- Local police may include relevant non-conviction information that could impact suitability for roles with vulnerable groups.
- Certain serious offences always appear on checks regardless of filtering rules, particularly for safeguarding-sensitive positions.
Understanding Enhanced DBS Checks and Their Purpose
When organizations need to assess an individual’s suitability for positions involving trust and responsibility, enhanced DBS checks provide the most thorough level of criminal record screening available in England and Wales.
These criminal record checks reveal both spent and unspent convictions, alongside cautions, reprimands, and warnings from the Police National Computer. You’ll also receive information held on local police records that’s relevant to your specific role, particularly when working with children or vulnerable adults.
Enhanced checks are mandatory for positions covered under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions), including teachers and social workers.
Importantly, employers can only request these checks with your individual’s consent. They’ll verify if you’re barred from working in regulated activities, guaranteeing compliance with safeguarding requirements while excluding filtered convictions where appropriate.
Who Needs an Enhanced DBS Check
If you’re employing staff for roles involving frequent or intensive contact with vulnerable groups, you’ll need to obtain enhanced DBS checks before they commence work.
As an employer, you must verify positions covered under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 receive proper screening.
Enhanced DBS checks are mandatory for:
- Teachers, healthcare professionals, and social workers working with children or vulnerable adults
- Anyone engaging in regulated activities with protected groups
- Positions requiring access to spent and unspent convictions, relevant police records, and barring status information
You’ll need the individual’s consent before submitting applications.
If you conduct fewer than 100 checks annually, you’re required to use a registered body to process these enhanced checks, maintaining compliance with safeguarding requirements.
Convictions and Cautions Revealed on Enhanced Certificates
Enhanced DBS certificates disclose extensive conviction and caution information that extends beyond standard criminal records checks.
Your enhanced check will reveal spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and warnings from the Police National Computer. Each entry includes the date, court details, offence description, and sentence imposed.
Enhanced DBS checks also indicate whether you’re barred from regulated activities involving children or vulnerable adults.
Local police records may appear if they contain relevant information held about potential risk factors related to your role.
Certain always included offences appear regardless of standard filtering rules that remove older convictions or cautions.
This thorough approach guarantees organisations receive all personal information necessary to make informed safeguarding decisions about prospective employees and volunteers.
Local Police Information and Additional Records
Beyond national criminal records, local police forces contribute non-conviction information that may prove critical to safeguarding decisions. Enhanced DBS checks incorporate local police records to provide a thorough view of your applicant’s background, helping you make fully informed hiring decisions.
This additional records component includes relevant information that hasn’t resulted in convictions but may impact suitability for working with vulnerable groups:
- Allegations under investigation or deemed credible
- Police warnings and cautions from local stations
- Incidents demonstrating concerning behavioral patterns
Local police information varies considerably based on individual circumstances and specific police force policies.
This non-conviction information offers employers enhanced protection when recruiting for positions involving children or vulnerable adults, creating a fuller risk assessment picture beyond criminal records alone.
Barred List Checks for Working With Vulnerable Groups
When recruiting for regulated activities involving vulnerable groups, you’ll find that enhanced DBS checks automatically include verification against the DBS barred lists—a mandatory safeguarding measure that identifies individuals legally prohibited from working with children or vulnerable adults.
The system maintains two distinct barred lists: one specifically for working with children and another for vulnerable adults.
If your DBS check includes barred list verification, it examines personal information against Criminal Records held by police forces nationwide.
When an individual appears on either list, they’re prohibited from working in relevant roles involving direct contact with at-risk populations.
This critical component guarantees you’re meeting legal compliance requirements while protecting vulnerable groups from unsuitable candidates in sensitive positions.
The Filtering System and What Gets Excluded
Understanding which offences appear on DBS certificates requires familiarity with the filtering system—a framework designed to balance public protection with rehabilitation opportunities for individuals with minor historic convictions.
Under the Rehabilitation Act 1974, filtered offences don’t appear on your criminal record check, provided specific conditions for filtering are met:
- Cautions received under 18 filter after two years; over 18 after six years
- Convictions filter after 5.5 years (under 18) or 11 years (over 18)
- Serious offences never filter regardless of elapsed time
While Basic checks exclude spent cautions entirely, Enhanced DBS checks may reveal additional information from your local police force.
Your DBS certificate won’t display filtered offences, but police records can include relevant details affecting vulnerable group positions.
Application Process and Processing Times
Managing the Enhanced DBS application process requires careful attention to procedural requirements and timelines that directly impact your recruitment decisions.
You’ll need consent from the candidate before proceeding and can submit online or via post. If you conduct fewer than 100 checks annually, you must engage a registered body to process applications.
The processing time typically spans 28 days, though variations occur depending on the police force’s workload.
Should your Enhanced DBS check exceed 60 days, you can escalate the application for expedited resolution.
The cost for an Enhanced DBS check is £49.50, with volunteers receiving this verification free of charge.
Understanding these parameters guarantees you maintain compliance while managing recruitment timelines effectively.
Disputing Incorrect Information on Your Certificate
Errors on your Enhanced DBS certificate can jeopardize employment opportunities and misrepresent your criminal history, making it necessary to address inaccuracies promptly.
If you’ve identified incorrect information on your certificate, you must dispute it within 3 months of the issue date to receive a corrected certificate at no charge.
You can challenge two distinct types of errors:
- Criminal record inaccuracies – requiring specialized investigation procedures
- Personal details errors – processed through separate data entry dispute channels
- Online or paper submissions – submit disputes digitally or request forms via telephone
The DBS investigation determines whether your dispute is upheld.
Upon successful resolution, you’ll receive a new certificate reflecting accurate details.
Throughout this process, maintain strict confidentiality of your certificate information while awaiting the investigation’s outcome.
Accessing Your Information Before a Check
How can you prepare for an Enhanced DBS check before it’s formally requested? You can submit a subject access request under GDPR to review your personal information held by the DBS. This proactive approach lets you verify your criminal record and identify any inaccuracies before your employer initiates a standard or enhanced check.
| Request Method | Information Accessed | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Online portal | Conviction history | 30-40 days |
| Direct contact | Local police records | 30-40 days |
| Written application | Rehabilitation Act 1974 data | 30-40 days |
When you make the request, include your name, address, and date of birth. While there’s typically no fee associated with your first request, subsequent applications may incur charges. Online tracking systems help monitor your application’s progress.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Do They Check in an Enhanced DBS?
An enhanced DBS check examines your complete criminal record, including all spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and warnings from the Police National Computer.
It’ll review any relevant local police intelligence pertaining to your role, particularly when you’re working with children or vulnerable adults.
The check also verifies whether you’re listed on barred registers that’d prohibit you from working with these protected groups, guaranteeing compliance with safeguarding requirements.
What Makes You Fail an Enhanced DBS Check?
You’ll fail an Enhanced DBS check if you’re on the DBS barred lists for working with vulnerable groups.
Specified serious offences, particularly violent or sexual crimes, will automatically appear and may disqualify you.
Additionally, you’ll face rejection if you fail to disclose previous convictions during the application process.
Unresolved criminal investigations deemed relevant to your role can also result in failure.
How Far Does an Enhanced DBS Check Go Back?
An enhanced DBS check goes back indefinitely, covering your entire criminal history on the Police National Computer.
You’ll see all unspent convictions and certain spent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and warnings.
However, some older records may be filtered if they’re over 11 years old (5.5 years if you were under 18) and meet specific criteria.
The check focuses on relevance to your role rather than just timeframes.
What Does an Enhanced Background Check Include?
An enhanced background check includes all your spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and warnings from the Police National Computer.
You’ll also see any relevant information from local police forces that may affect your suitability for the role.
The check verifies if you’re on the DBS barred lists for working with children or vulnerable adults.
You must give consent before your employer can request this check for eligible positions.
Conclusion
You’ll find enhanced DBS checks are important compliance tools that protect vulnerable groups. They’ll reveal spent and unspent convictions, cautions, warnings, and relevant local police intelligence. If you’re working with children or vulnerable adults, you’re legally required to undergo this screening. You should review your certificate carefully upon receipt and dispute any inaccuracies immediately through the official process. Understanding what’s included and filtered guarantees you’re prepared for employment clearance and maintains safeguarding standards across regulated sectors.