Are DBS Checks Transferrable between employers?
We’re often asked, “Can my old DBS Check be used for my new job?”.
It might seem logical that you would be able to use an existing DBS Certificate when applying for a new job. However, there are certain rules and things you need to do before this is the case.
Can I use my current DBS Check for a new job?
You can use an existing DBS Check for a new job if you have signed up for the DBS Update Service. This needs to be done either, when your DBS Check is in process or within 30 days of receiving your DBS Certificate. On top of this, the current DBS Check would also need to match the type of work that you were doing in your new job.
The level of DBS Check needs to be the same and it also needs to have the correct Workforce and Barred List included. Some DBS Certificates will disclose criminal history and barring information that is only relevant for working with adults. Some will only contain information relating to children.
Accepting an existing DBS Certificate of the wrong level or type can be a safeguarding risk because a recruitment decision would be made without all the relevant information. Consider the following situation:
A primary school teaching assistant decides to change careers and become a care assistant. Their current DBS Check will be an Enhanced DBS Check against the Child Workforce and Child’s Barred List. This check includes barring information and police notes that are relevant for a role working with children.
When working as a care assistant, they will need an Enhanced DBS Check against the Adult Workforce and Adult's Barred List. This means their new employer will need to carry out a new DBS Check. The existing one will not give them the information they need to make a safe recruitment decision.
If the care home in the example above had accepted the existing check, they would be failing in their statutory safeguarding responsibility described by the CQC. They would also inadvertently be committing a criminal offence. This is because they would be viewing information that is not relevant and therefore protected under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (ROA).
What is the DBS Update Service
The DBS Update Service is a subscription service managed by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). For £13 a year, people can register, and the DBS will keep the DBS Certificate record updates indefinitely. They can then provide new employers with a code to view the information on the Update Service. In theory, this should make the recruitment process much quicker in industries where DBS Checks are mandatory.
Can Employers Refuse a DBS Certificate?
It is ultimately down to an employer's discretion whether they will accept an existing DBS Certificate. This is true, whether you are signed up to the DBS Update Service or not. There are a couple of reasons why an employer may refuse an existing DBS Certificate:
They have policies stating that a DBS Check must be completed in the correct company name or that all new starters have a new DBS Check carried out
Industry regulators may specify that all new employees must have a new DBS Check carried out before starting work.
It might seem strange, but employers have no obligation to accept an existing DBS Certificate.
Can you help?
Unfortunately, Personnel Checks aren’t allowed to help applicants sign up to the Update Service. DBS Certificate holders must do this directly with the DBS. If you need more information about how to sign up for the DBS Update Service, you can find our guide here.
For information on the Update Service in general, visit www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service. You can also call the Disclosure & Barring Service on 03000 200 190.
If you’re interested in learning how our background screening solutions can help you, get in touch! You can give us a call on 01254 355688 or drop us an email at letstalk@personnelchecks.co.uk