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We offer experience, service and value
for money !
Experience
APCS's advisors have experience of dealing with thousands of disclosures per
annum from a wide range of business sectors. We have been established in this
business since 2003.
Fully Registered
Access Personal Checking Services is an Independent Umbrella Body registered
with the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) under Registered Body No: 22708200000.
To see our official listing: Click
Here
Confidentiality
We work strictly to the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Guidelines. You can be
assured of individual, personal attention and our total discretion at all times.
Independent
APCS has no connection with any other business. We specialise solely in processing
disclosures and offer a highly efficient, dedicated service.
Speed of Service
Requests for Disclosures are dealt with promptly, application forms and Disclosures
despatched the same day by first class post. We understand that all your applications
are likely to be urgent and our processes are structured accordingly.
Free Advice
APCS are pleased to offer free advice by e-mail or telephone.
Specifically, we provide:
A dedicated account manager:
You can speak to someone who is familiar with the history of your business
with us.
A dedicated advice line:
We welcome your queries, a phone call can avoid errors and delays.
Database management:
Monitoring progress of current applications and providing historical information
of your business with us.
Flexibility to suit your business:
We believe in making our process fit your needs, not the other way round!
Training:
Full supporting documentation provided on completing application forms, checking
ID documents and handling disclosure information.
Help !
Advice on disclosed information.
Remember, our experienced
Help Desk Team are on hand to advise you easily and quickly by phone: Help
Desk / Contact Page
Top
What is a Disclosure ?
A disclosure is a document containing information held by the police and government
departments. It can be used by employers and voluntary organisations to make safer
recruitment decisions. Disclosures are provided by the Criminal Records Bureau
(CRB), an executive agency of the Home Office.
The Disclosure service offers organisations a means to check the background
of job applicants to ensure that they do not have a history that would make them
unsuitable for posts being filled. Disclosures will provide details of a person's
criminal records including convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings held
on the Police National Computer (PNC). If the position involves working with children,
Disclosures will also contain details from lists held by the Department of Health
(DH) and the Department for Education & Skills (DfES) of those considered
unsuitable for this type of work. Depending on the level of Disclosure, it might
also contain information held by local police forces.
A Disclosure also states if there is nothing on record, so is a testament to
good character.
There are two levels of Disclosure: Standard or Enhanced.
Top
What sort of Disclosure do I need ?
Standard Disclosures
These are primarily for posts that involve working with children or vulnerable
adults. Standard Disclosures may also be used for people entering certain professions
such as members of the legal and accountancy professions. The Standard Disclosure
contains details of all convictions held on the police national computer including
current and "spent" convictions as well as details of any cautions,
reprimands or final warnings.
If a position involves working with children, the Disclosure will indicate
whether information is held on government department lists held by the DfES and
the DH of those who are banned from working with children. The Disclosure also
includes information held by the DH of those considered unsuitable to work with
vulnerable adults.
Enhanced Disclosures
These are for posts involving far greater degree of contact with children or
vulnerable adults. In general the type of work will involve regular caring for,
supervising, training or being in sole charge of such people. Examples include
teacher, scout or guide leader. Enhanced Disclosures are also issued for certain
statutory purposes such as gaming and lottery licences.
This level of Disclosure involves an additional level of check to those carried
out for the Standard Disclosure. An Enhanced Disclosure includes a check on local
police records. Where local police records contain additional information that
might be relevant to the post the applicant is being considered for, the Chief
Officer of police may release information for inclusion in an Enhanced Disclosure.
Still not sure what type of Disclosure you need !
No problem - We are here to help you: Help
Desk Team Contact Page
Top
Why do I need Disclosures ?
You may have been asked for a Standard or an Enhanced Disclosure because you
will be working with Children or Vulnerable adults; or will be working in an establishment
that is wholly or mainly for Children; or will be working in health care; or have
applied to be a foster carer, adoptive parent or childminder.
Local Authorities are increasingly making use of their premises for any activities
involving children conditional upon Disclosures having been obtained for the staff
involved. Similarly churches and other bodies such as the YMCA may follow suit.
Quite apart from complying with requirements, most people welcome the fact
that these measures are taken to protect children and vulnerable adults. Organisations
that have met this responsibility can offer an additional reassurance to their
customers that their staff have been fully vetted.
Top
What information will I be asked for ?
The Disclosure Application Form asks for the following information from the
applicant:
- Name and personal details of the applicant
- Addresses over the last five years
The employer adds the following information:
- Employers name and address.
- Applicant's job title.
- Identity checks on the applicant, which may include driver's licence, birth
certificate or passport details.
For an additional fee of £8.00 ( plus £1.40 VAT ) APCS can liaise
directly with the applicant and arrange for identity checks to be carried out
at a local Post Office. Please see Services and Costs
page.
Top
Who will receive the Disclosure ?
The applicant will receive the Disclosure by post from the CRB.
A copy of the Disclosure will also be sent to the Umbrella Body (Access Personal
Checking Services) who pass it on to the organisation employing the applicant,
after checking the organisation is aware of the code of practice for using disclosure
information.
Note: Access Personal Checking Services
supply the Code of Practice with your first order.
Top
How confidential is the information provided ?
Organisations using the Disclosure service must comply with the CRB Code of
Practice.
Note: Access Personal Checking Services
supply the Code of Practice with your first order.
Under the provisions of the Code, sensitive personal information must be handled
and stored appropriately and must be kept only for as long as necessary. The Code
of Practice is published on the Disclosure website, a copy will be provided by
APCS. Once the recruitment decision is taken , there is no need to retain the
Disclosure document. The date and reference number is sufficient evidence that
checks have been made.
It is a criminal offence to pass on any information in a Disclosure to any
third party.
Top
What if a Disclosure reveals a criminal record ?
Safeguards and guidelines have been introduced to ensure that conviction information
is not misused and that ex-offenders are not treated unfairly.
The CRB Code of Practice covers how recipients of Disclosure use the information
revealed.
In particular, the employer must consider
· Whether the conviction is relevant to the position in question.
· The seriousness of the matter revealed.
· The length of time since the matter occurred.
Note: Access Personal Checking Services
supply the Code of Practice with your first order.
Top
How long is a Disclosure valid ?
Each Disclosure will show the date on which it was provided. The older the
Disclosure the less reliable it becomes. However, there will be no expiry date.
Top
I’m a Volunteer - Am I entitled to a reduced fee ?
The CRB process disclosures for volunteers free of charge, so you only pay
the APCS part of the fee, which is £15 ( plus £2.63 VAT ) Please see
Services and Costs page.
The CRB define a volunteer as "a person who is engaged in any activity
which involves spending time, unpaid (except for travelling and other approved
out-of-pocket expenses), doing something which aims to benefit someone (individuals
or groups) other than, or, in addition to close relatives".
They are very strict on how this is interpreted and they specifically exclude
family members of the business owner, foster parents or carers, and people on
work placements working towards a qualification or skill to help their employment
prospects. They will audit volunteer applications and make retrospective charges
if necessary.
APCS will check with applicants classified as volunteers to ensure they fall
within the CRB definition.
Top
Disclosures for Self Employed Individuals
The CRB have told us we cannot process a disclosure for a self employed individual.
In other words, you cannot obtain a disclosure on yourself. If you work through
an Agency, or membership organisation then that is acceptable - so long as we
can send the employer's copy to the agency or organisation who will assess your
suitability for the work.
Top
ID Checking – How can APCS do this for me
?
In normal circumstances the employer checks the applicant’s ID documents
when they fill in the Disclosure Application form, perhaps at the job interview.
The information pack we send out explains how these checks are done.
In some circumstances, it is not possible for the employer to do this, usually
because the applicants are geographically dispersed.
APCS can deal with these applicants directly. The applicant takes ID documents
and the application form to a local Post Office where the documents are checked
and returned to the applicant. The CRB application form and evidence of the ID
Checking is then sent to APCS and we can process the application from there.
The employer’s involvement is limited to putting the applicant in touch
with APCS initially, and receiving the disclosure at the end of the process.
The cost of this service is an additional £8.00 ( plus £1.40 VAT
) and the applicant pays £5 at the Post Office counter. Should the employer
prefer the applicant not to be charged, the cost is £14 ( plus £2.45
VAT ) which is invoiced to the employer - Please see Services
and Costs page.
Top
Help
!
Our experienced Help Desk
Team are on hand to advise you easily and quickly by phone:
Help Desk / Contact Page
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