The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) in the UK conducts checks on an individual’s criminal record. It issues certificates to help employers determine whether a candidate is suitable to work with vulnerable groups, such as in teaching, childcare, social work, and healthcare.
In the UK, employers can check your criminal record no matter what role you apply for. This is called a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
For certain roles, an employer can request a more detailed DBS check, for example, if you’ll be working with children or in healthcare.
Your employer can still request a basic check if they cannot get a more detailed check for your role.
Your employer can ask you to request your own basic check.
You can then show it to the person you’ll be working for.
Attention
DBS certificates will require notarisation by a notary public before they are submitted to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in the UK for an apostille certificate.
An apostille certificate is used to authenticate a notary’s verification of a DBS certificate. The apostille certificate provides reassurance to foreign authorities that the DBS certificate is an authentic document.
Find out what type of DBS check your employer can request for your role.
