#Collaborative post
Pretty much everyone has heard of DBS checks nowadays, but there’s still a bit of intrigue that surrounds the subject. Many of you will have had a whole range of questions, from what kind of information these checks look for to whether or not they’re really necessary for certain positions. Here, we take a closer look at a common question many jobseekers will have had – that is, whether or not you can DBS check yourself.
Different kinds of DBS check
To start with, it’s important to remember that there isn’t just one kind of DBS check. The DBS (disclosure and barring service) is a non-departmental government body responsible for conducting criminal background checks in the UK.
A DBS check is any check that’s carried out through this government body, and there are a range of different ones that are available. Some of these checks can be done on yourself, while others can’t.
DBS checks you can carry out on yourself
There is only one DBS check that you can carry out on yourself – the basic check. The basic check is the lowest level option available, and it only searches for unspent criminal convictions, warnings, and reprimands. It’s often used in retail and hospitality, as a way of checking that candidates aren’t lying about anything significant in their past.
DBS checks you can’t carry out on yourself
There are two more DBS checks, neither of which you can conduct on yourself.
Standard check
The standard check looks for both spent and unspent criminal convictions, warnings and reprimands. It’s restricted to certain roles, and companies generally need to request to have the check carried out via an authorised online DBS check company. It’s often required in industries with a high professional standard, such as where the employee will have limited contact with sensitive information or individuals.
Enhanced check
The enhanced check is the highest level of check available. In addition to the searches done at the standard check level, the enhanced check also includes any information that the police think might be relevant to the role being applied for. Like the standard check, the enhanced check is restricted to certain roles, meaning that you won’t be able to carry one out on yourself.
Why would you want to do a DBS check on yourself?
There are several reasons why you might want to carry out a DBS check on yourself. You might simply be curious about what will come up, or more commonly, you might want to have the test ready to go for a job that you’re thinking about applying for.
If you just need a basic check, the good news is you can go ahead and carry out the check. If you need a standard or enhanced check, you’ll need to wait until the employer in question carries it out for you. Luckily, you won’t be at a disadvantage – everyone else will need to wait as well. We hope that this has cleared things up a bit for you, it’s not too difficult to carry out a basic DBS check, and it shouldn’t take you too long to get your results.