Recruitment
Offer of employment
An offer of employment for a post working with children or vulnerable adults is conditional. The applicant must:
- satisfy our usual requirements for employment
- have a satisfactory DBS check, if required, depending on the post in question
Generally, we do not permit any person to commence employment until:
- all specified conditions are satisfied
- all relevant recruitment is complete
- vetting checks are complete
There may be a particular reason why a new starter begins work before the return of the DBS check. In this event, and order for the check to happen, the manager must complete a DBS risk assessment and confirm:
- submission of a correctly-completed criminal records check application
- an adult or children barred list check, if applicable, has been undertaken. To progress the check the manager must provide:
- the name of the individual
- any previous surnames they have been known as
- their date of birth
- completion of all of the pre-employment right to work in the UK checks. For example, confirm the identity of the job applicant, references have been taken and are verified
- the manager has made sufficient safeguards for the individual not to have unsupervised access to children or adults
Eligibility for checks
We are legally responsible for asking a person to reveal their conviction history. They must complete a DBS check when the post duties meet the criteria for exempt positions.
Managers will assess new posts, with advice from HR, for DBS eligibility.
Individuals recruited from overseas
Anyone appointed to a post requiring an enhanced DBS check must have one. A check is needed regardless of their length of stay in the UK, even if they have never been resident.
When recruiting from abroad, the applicant must have:
- a statement of good conduct
- or, an overseas criminal records check
This includes citizens of the UK who have worked or lived overseas for three months or more in the previous five years.
This does not apply to members of the UK armed forces and their families who were stationed overseas.
Generally, the DBS cannot access criminal records held overseas. The national police computer has some overseas records that the DBS check would reveal.
Find out more about criminal records checks for overseas applicants.