Why Do Employers Do DBS Checks?

Recruitment in the modern day and age does seem to be getting increasingly complicated. Where in the old days, you’d just hand in your CV and get a ‘yes’ or ‘no’, with some jobs today, there are a startling number of processes you need to go through before your first day on the job.

A step in that process that’s become increasingly common is to carry out a DBS check. If you’ve had to do one before, or seen jobs that require one, you’ve likely wondered why employers use them in the first place – let’s take a quick look. 

DBS checks explained

First, a very quick look at what DBS checks are. DBS stands for the Disclosure and Barring Service, a non-departmental government body responsible for carrying out criminal background checks in the UK.

There are three main types of checks – the Basic check, Standard check, and Enhanced check. While the Basic check is not that complicated to carry out, the Standard and Enhanced checks typically need to be done through a trusted third-party provider. 

Why do employers use them?

There are a number of different reasons why employers might do DBS checks.

Legal compliance

With Standard and Enhanced checks, it’s important to note that they aren’t actually optional for the employers in question. 

They’re typically required by the regulations covering that industry, meaning that failure to conduct the appropriate check could result in serious legal repercussions – especially if something went wrong.

The kinds of industries where it might be a legal requirement include the financial industry and healthcare providers.

Protecting the vulnerable

The more practical reason why DBS checks are often done is to protect vulnerable individuals. This will typically apply to childcare and healthcare roles, where the employer wouldn’t want to employ someone who had hidden their criminal history.

Getting a clearer picture of the candidate

For basic checks in particular, employers may choose to use them just to try to get a clearer picture of the candidate in question. It means they can see if the candidate is lying about anything massive in their past, decreasing the chances that they hire someone who’s highly unqualified.

Maintaining a safe workplace

DBS checks are also a great way of minimising the risk of serious incidents in the workplace. This means that it will be safer as a result, with employees being more likely to feel comfortable, likely leading to decreased turnover rates as well. 

Managing risk

In a range of industries, DBS checks are also an important tool when it comes to risk management. It’s a quick and simple way of minimising the probability that they hire someone with criminal intentions, helping to avoid any potential complications as a result.

There is clearly a wide variety of reasons that employers find value in DBS checks. From regulatory compliance to risk management, DBS checks can be a critical tool that can be used to help run a business in a safe, and relatively risk-free manner. 

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