Can any position request a DBS check?

GreenTreen123

I don’t have anything to worry about with regards to a DBS check however I’m surprised that many positions within an agency are being asked for DBS checks. For example a cleaner.

All jobs have the ability for crime and I’m sure all employees would like to know that they aren’t employing criminals, however I’m not sure if it’s being asked for unreasonably. For example if I go on this website and answer the questions truthfully, they all say no. https://www.gov.uk/find-out-dbs-check

I’m being a busy body this wet Monday afternoon but would be good to know

GreenTreen123

Oh goodness I think I!!!8217;ve just found there are three levels and all employees can ask for basic. Silly me.

Comms69

it's not that simple.


It's not simply about you re-offending, it's abut risk assessments and in some cases regulations.


Ultimately yes employers can ask for a DBS and usually it's very easy to justify that.

GreenTreen123

If it is not as simple yet very simple In the last sentence lol

Comms69

GreenTreen123 wrote: »

If it is not as simple yet very simple In the last sentence lol

Its not that simple in terms of jobs having the potential for crime, and employers not wanting to employ ex-criminals (though many do want to do this)


The reasons for a DBS may not be obvious at first. But most employers can justify it very easily - unsupervised contact with the public, cash handling, access to personal data etc.

GreenTreen123

So there aren!!!8217;t any rules and regulations is what you are saying?

Comms69

GreenTreen123 wrote: »

So there aren!!!8217;t any rules and regulations is what you are saying?

Yes there are. You can only request a DBS if you can justify it.


Im just saying that justifying it isn't that difficult for most jobs.

GreenTreen123

What are examples of jobs that wouldn!!!8217;t be justified? Because if cleaning isn!!!8217;t....

Les79

To be fair, in the places I've worked some of the cleaners have comprised of ex convicts! They were generally nice people as well! Much nicer than some of the managers in the place, I tell ya!

But we also had 16/17 year olds working for us at certain times, and there were times when cleaners had pseudo-unsupervised access to them (they were "supervised", but the supervisors would, for example, have a cigarette break every so often). I don't know what the rules are for 16-17 year olds (it might be legal), but the last thing the company would have wanted was a sex pest going after them.

I sort of suspect that a DBS check for a cleaning role is just to cover their own backs. If it comes back OK and someone causes !!!! then the company aren't liable. But if they had never done one and someone causes !!!! then suddenly people are asking "why didn't your pre-employment checks pick this up?"

At the end of the day, get yours done and tick the box. Simple as. Compare it to my newest job; I had to jump through about 10 hoops before they gave me it, in contrast I wish it was as easy as just doing a DBS check!

ReadingTim

The checks aren't always related to what you're doing, but where you're doing it.

Comms69

GreenTreen123 wrote: »

What are examples of jobs that wouldn!!!8217;t be justified? Because if cleaning isn!!!8217;t....

Cleaners have usually unsupervised access to company premises though, so something to consider there.


It also depends on the nature of the business.


I wouldn't like to put up a list, but an example would be some admin roles.