Why no enhanced DBS for these civil service roles?

[Deleted User]

I am currently waiting to see if my successful interview for a civil service role turns into a job offer and in the meantime was browsing civil service jobs.

Just curious about these two roles really and trying to understand security checking.

This one is a PIP Case Manager, it specifies DBS and needing to undergo the BPSS, which if I read correctly only performs a basic DBS? Is this because the role is basically making decisions on the PIP benefit?

https://www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/index.cgi?SID=Y3NvdXJjZT1jc3FzZWFyY2gmb3duZXI9NTA3MDAwMCZ1c2Vyc2VhcmNoY29udGV4dD0xMzU1NTE1OTMmam9ibGlzdF92aWV3X3ZhYz0xNzM3MTk2JnBhZ2VhY3Rpb249dmlld3ZhY2J5am9ibGlzdCZzZWFyY2hfc2xpY2VfY3VycmVudD0xJm93bmVydHlwZT1mYWlyJnBhZ2VjbGFzcz1Kb2JzJnJlcXNpZz0xNjMwMDg4NjY4LTk4YmMyYWI1YjBmYjFlNjk5ZmZkY2FmMmE4ZDZhOGQ3YjBkYzhjMmI=

The next one, is a probation services officer, again it just states DBS and performing a BPSS check. This is the one I was more curious about because I thought this type having interactions with offenders would have been enhanced check required or even enhanced with barred lists check?

https://www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/index.cgi?SID=cGFnZWNsYXNzPUpvYnMmb3duZXJ0eXBlPWZhaXImdXNlcnNlYXJjaGNvbnRleHQ9MTM1NTUxNTkzJmpvYmxpc3Rfdmlld192YWM9MTczOTYwMiZwYWdlYWN0aW9uPXZpZXd2YWNieWpvYmxpc3Qmc2VhcmNoX3NsaWNlX2N1cnJlbnQ9MSZvd25lcj01MDcwMDAwJmNzb3VyY2U9Y3Nxc2VhcmNoJnJlcXNpZz0xNjMwMDg4NjY4LTk4YmMyYWI1YjBmYjFlNjk5ZmZkY2FmMmE4ZDZhOGQ3YjBkYzhjMmI=

Can someone help me understand?

oh_really

The first one is, as I understand it, essentially an admin role without firstline contact. I would argue that on this basis no DBS check is necessary.

[Deleted User]

Yeah that makes sense. Do you know what the one I’ve been successful in will do? 

It’s a customer consultant role with HMRC. 

My friend said it would be enhanced with barred list check as you cold speak to vulnerable customers, but it doesn’t sound like regulated activity. 

My mum said it would just be basic, but I think enhanced? 

They never reply to emails. 

It’s basically a call centre role. 

antonic

MarkN88 said:

Yeah that makes sense. Do you know what the one I’ve been successful in will do? 

It’s a customer consultant role with HMRC. 

My friend said it would be enhanced with barred list check as you cold speak to vulnerable customers, but it doesn’t sound like regulated activity. 

My mum said it would just be basic, but I think enhanced? 

They never reply to emails. 

It’s basically a call centre role. 

As a customer consultant you are answering the phone / dealing with post .
Any records you access doing the job are monitored (and if you do something wrong you WILL get caught).
As such all you need to is pass basic security.

(When I started in the Civil Service in the last century these checks didn`t exist !).

Good luck !

[Deleted User]

Okay thanks for that, appreciate it. 

MDMD

antonic said:

MarkN88 said:

Yeah that makes sense. Do you know what the one I’ve been successful in will do? 

It’s a customer consultant role with HMRC. 

My friend said it would be enhanced with barred list check as you cold speak to vulnerable customers, but it doesn’t sound like regulated activity. 

My mum said it would just be basic, but I think enhanced? 

They never reply to emails. 

It’s basically a call centre role. 

As a customer consultant you are answering the phone / dealing with post .
Any records you access doing the job are monitored (and if you do something wrong you WILL get caught).
As such all you need to is pass basic security.

(When I started in the Civil Service in the last century these checks didn`t exist !).

Good luck !

When I was at HMRC there was someone who looked up his neighbour to find out how much they earned…..I think he was sacked within the week.

[Deleted User]

So does that not make the customer consultant role regulated activity? Or have I misunderstood? 

Emmia

MarkN88 said:

So does that not make the customer consultant role regulated activity? Or have I misunderstood? 

What about the role do you think is "regulated"? You don't (or shouldn't) give (financial) advice to people in that type of role. 

[Deleted User]

Emmia said:

MarkN88 said:

So does that not make the customer consultant role regulated activity? Or have I misunderstood? 

What about the role do you think is "regulated"? You don't (or shouldn't) give (financial) advice to people in that type of role. 

Yeah although, I meant it more in the vulnerable customer side of things where it can be classed as regulated activity if you work with vulnerable children or adults. 

That’s why I was clarifying. 

Obviously an enhanced check or enhanced with barred lists check would take longer than a basic or standard. 

Maybe I’m misunderstanding what regulated activity means. 

Emmia

MarkN88 said:

Emmia said:

MarkN88 said:

So does that not make the customer consultant role regulated activity? Or have I misunderstood? 

What about the role do you think is "regulated"? You don't (or shouldn't) give (financial) advice to people in that type of role. 

Yeah although, I meant it more in the vulnerable customer side of things where it can be classed as regulated activity if you work with vulnerable children or adults. 

That’s why I was clarifying. 

Obviously an enhanced check or enhanced with barred lists check would take longer than a basic or standard. 

Maybe I’m misunderstanding what regulated activity means. 

Not everyone who claims tax credits/benefis etc. is necessarily vulnerable, and in many cases they have support to complete applications/paperwork. 

Your job will presumably be looking at the evidence provided (and potentially requesting extra information) to help decide based on the facts of the case - you won't meet the people, but you will be dealing with personal information though and your work / computer access will be monitored. 

It is important not to get too involved in the cases and to remain dispassionate.  You'll be judging based on fixed criteria, and how the evidence/information provided fits it.  

You'll have to become sceptical and hardened to sob stories. 

antonic

MarkN88 said:

Emmia said:

MarkN88 said:

So does that not make the customer consultant role regulated activity? Or have I misunderstood? 

What about the role do you think is "regulated"? You don't (or shouldn't) give (financial) advice to people in that type of role. 

Yeah although, I meant it more in the vulnerable customer side of things where it can be classed as regulated activity if you work with vulnerable children or adults. 

That’s why I was clarifying. 

Obviously an enhanced check or enhanced with barred lists check would take longer than a basic or standard. 

Maybe I’m misunderstanding what regulated activity means. 

It`s not a regulated role as you are not giving any financial advice , you will be implementing HMRC policies with regards to debts owed (possibly).

You will not be dealing with customers face to face.

The reason why they only run a basic check is to ensure you have no links to an Organised Crime Group (as in Line Of Duty) and have financial worries which could leave you open to pressue to reveal confidential information - HMRC has a lot of information which could be valuable to some.

Hope this helps