Managing a company is not a simple task and one of the most important decisions you will have to make as a leader is hiring people who will make sure your organization is working like a clock.
For that to happen you need to have a proper recruitment strategy set in place. One of the most important steps in this process is going through a person’s background and finding out if he or she has a criminal record. However, not all background checks are the same, and depending on the industry you work in, you will need them to provide you with one of 3 certificates. Let’s see what are the characteristics of each one of them.
What are the Types of Background Checks?
Having an insight into a candidate’s criminal record will allow you to see whether he or she is suitable for the job position in your company. This will also protect you from any possible liability in case some sort of incident happens at the office. Overall, it’s an important phase of the whole process, especially when the employee has to work with vulnerable groups such as children.
The background checks are divided into 3 levels:
- Basic
- Standard
- Enhanced
Basic Disclosure
This is the first level disclosure and the employer will have access only to the most essential information regarding criminal history. Individuals requesting basic online DBS checks will have to complete the provided form and make a payment in order to get the certificate. With this document, a company will be able to determine whether you’re a suitable candidate for the role.
It encompasses unspent convictions (fines and sentences of 4 and more years of imprisonment) and conditional cautions. The report will disclose the conviction date, name of the court, nature of the offense, and the date as well as the details of the sentence imposed.
Standard Disclosure
This report covers the same things as the previous one but it also includes some additional information such as reprimands and warnings (now replaced by youth cautions). However, this check can only be requested by the employers trying to find out if they have a perfect candidate for the position offered in their company or organization. Of course, they will need written consent to do this. Those who want to work in healthcare or social care, or with security companies will have to go through this procedure.
Enhanced Disclosure
As the most detailed and in-depth criminal record check, this disclosure will reveal all the things as the previous two but also add police intelligence reports and Children’s and/or Barring List (if specified on application). For any position where you’re required to work with children or vulnerable adults, you need to go through an enhanced check.
These 3 types of criminal history checks are created to make sure the right people are hired for a certain professional role. They raise the level of security in the office and ensure the employers are not held liable for any incident that might happen in the working environment.
