CRB Disclosures FAQ's - Basic Disclosures, Standard Disclosures, Enhanced Disclosures, Volunteer Disclosures

CRB Disclosures FAQ's - Basic Disclosures, Standard Disclosures, Enhanced Disclosures, Volunteer Disclosures - Which one do I need?
Criminal record bureau (CRB) background checks disclosures specialist CRB registered company offering a dedicated criminal record checking service for businesses and organisations throughout the UK

Disclosures FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions)

Please check out the information below but please don't struggle ! If you are not sure about anything our experienced Team are on hand to advise you easily and quickly by phone - Contact Page

See Also - Who Requires CRB Disclosures (List of people and professions)


What is a Disclosure ?

A disclosure is a document containing information held by 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 provide details of a person's criminal records including:

  • Convictions
  • Cautions
  • Reprimands
  • Warnings

These are held on the Police National Computer (PNC).

If the position involves working with children, Disclosures will also contain details from lists held by the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) 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 can be used as a testament to good character.

There are three levels of Disclosure:

Basic

Standard

Enhanced.

(See detailed descriptions below)

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Tel: 0845 643 1145

Our Specialist Disclosure Team and Dedicated Help Desk Team are always happy to help you.

If you wish to place an order, or ...

If you are new to CRB Disclosures and not sure which type you need or you're not sure what to do, please don't struggle, simply pick up the phone and call today.

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Criminal record bureau (CRB) background checks disclosures specialist CRB registered company offering a dedicated criminal record checking service for businesses and organisations throughout the UK

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Disclosures FAQ's

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Track the Progress of Your Disclosure Application



Basic Disclosures

A Basic Disclosure contains details of all 'unspent' convictions held on the police national computer or, confirms there are no such convictions.

If there is nothing on record it can be used as a testament to good character.

Basic Disclosures are the only disclosures that a person can apply for on themselves. They are needed for visa and liquor licence applications, but are generally useful for indicating good character.

You may want a Basic Disclosure for:

  • Your current job or, to give additional credibility to a job application.
  • An application for a personal liquor licence
  • A Visa application
  • Or, simply to check whether you have any unspent criminal convictions

We supply Basic Disclosures for both Individuals and Employers (please see details below)

Individuals - How to apply for a Basic Disclosure:

The process is very straight forward!

Please call us on 0845 643 1145 and provide us with the following details.

  • Your Name
  • Address
  • Postcode
  • Telephone Number
  • Date Of Birth

Employers - How to apply for a Basic Disclosure for a staff member/s:

You first need to get the written and signed consent of the applicant/s.

We provide consent forms and application forms to easily set up Basic Disclosures for you.

Simply contact our Specialist Disclosures Team: Contact Page

Go back to Services and Costs page


Free Friendly Advice and Support

Tel: 0845 643 1145

Our Specialist Disclosure Team and Dedicated Help Desk Team are always happy to help you.

If you wish to place an order, or ...

If you are new to CRB Disclosures and not sure which type you need or you're not sure what to do, please don't struggle, simply pick up the phone and call today.

Help Desk Team / Contact Page


Criminal record bureau (CRB) background checks disclosures specialist CRB registered company offering a dedicated criminal record checking service for businesses and organisations throughout the UK

Home Page

Services & Costs

How to Apply

Who requires criminal record checks?

Disclosures FAQ's

Disclosure Photo ID Cards

Track the Progress of Your Disclosure Application


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Standard Disclosures

The Standard Disclosure Certificate shows details of spent and unspent convictions and cautions. It does not show details of cases pending.

Examples of Positions eligible for Standard Disclosures.

  • Individuals applying for licences for the Security Industry Authority
  • Barrister, solicitor
  • Judicial appointments
  • Employment in the Northern Ireland Court Service
  • Actuary

Please note that from 12 October 2009, Standard Disclosures will not contain information about those included on the Independent Safeguarding Authority’s (ISAs) Childrens list or Vulnerable Adults list and therefore barred from working with children or vulnerable adults.

Standard Disclosures are not suitable for those working with children and vulnerable adults in regulated and controlled activity, providing day care, childminding, fostering or adoption services. While such posts are included within the scope of the Exceptions Order, an Enhanced disclosure must be sought.

Important Note:

As from October 2009, an Enhanced Disclosure must be used for posts involving contact with children or vulnerable adults. (Please see Enhanced Disclosures below)

How to apply for a Standard Disclosure/s:

Simply contact our Specialist Disclosures Team: Contact Page

Go back to Services and Costs page

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Free Friendly Advice and Support

Tel: 0845 643 1145

Our Specialist Disclosure Team and Dedicated Help Desk Team are always happy to help you.

If you wish to place an order, or ...

If you are new to CRB Disclosures and not sure which type you need or you're not sure what to do, please don't struggle, simply pick up the phone and call today.

Help Desk Team / Contact Page


Criminal record bureau (CRB) background checks disclosures specialist CRB registered company offering a dedicated criminal record checking service for businesses and organisations throughout the UK

Home Page

Services & Costs

How to Apply

Who requires criminal record checks?

Disclosures FAQ's

Disclosure Photo ID Cards

Track the Progress of Your Disclosure Application



Enhanced Disclosures

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.

Which professions need an Enhanced Disclosure certificate?

  • All those who apply for work that regularly involves caring for, training, supervising or being in sole charge of children or vulnerable adults.
  • Applicants for various gaming and lottery licences.
  • Those seeking judicial appointment.
  • Applicants for registration for child minding, day care and to act as foster parents or carers.
  • All candidates applying for the Camp USA programme need to get an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate.

Enhanced Disclosure is required on entry into the following professions:

Betting and gaming
Local lottery manager or promoter
National Lottery posts
Positions in a casino
Posts concerned with betting
Selling, supplying or maintaining gaming machines

Health Services

Dentist
Director of private dental or opticians practice
Doctor
Optician (including ophthalmic optician)
Partner in a Pharmacists
Partner in a private opticians
Pharmacist

Others

Adoptive parents
Child minding and day care posts
Foster parents
National Care Standards Commission
Social workers and social care workers
Regularly caring for, training, supervising or being in sole charge of persons aged under 18
Regularly caring for training, supervising or being in sole charge of vulnerable adults.

How to apply for an Enhanced Disclosure/s:

Simply contact our Specialist Disclosures Team: Contact Page

Not sure what type of Disclosure you need !

No problem - We are here to help you: Help Desk Team Contact Page

Go back to Services and Costs page

Top

Free Friendly Advice and Support

Tel: 0845 643 1145

Our Specialist Disclosure Team and Dedicated Help Desk Team are always happy to help you.

If you wish to place an order, or ...

If you are new to CRB Disclosures and not sure which type you need or you're not sure what to do, please don't struggle, simply pick up the phone and call today.

Help Desk Team / Contact Page


Criminal record bureau (CRB) background checks disclosures specialist CRB registered company offering a dedicated criminal record checking service for businesses and organisations throughout the UK

Home Page

Services & Costs

How to Apply

Who requires criminal record checks?

Disclosures FAQ's

Disclosure Photo ID Cards

Track the Progress of Your Disclosure Application



Why do I need Disclosures ?

You may have been asked for a Standard Disclosure because you will be working in the legal, or financial professions, or the security industry, or in secure locations. You’ll be asked for 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 will 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.

Basic Disclosures are useful to employers wishing to check that any employee does not have an unspent conviction, information that any employer is entitled to know about. Basic Disclosures are the only disclosures that a person can apply for on themselves. They are needed for visa and liquor licence applications, but are generally useful for indicating good character.

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What information will I be asked ?

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 £10.00 ( plus £1.75 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.

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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 (APCS) 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: APCS supply the Code of Practice with your first order.

Only one copy of the Basic Disclosure is issued. APCS will pass this on to the person who requested it (the employer or the applicant).

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How confidential is the information provided ?

Organisations using the Disclosure service must comply with the CRB Code of Practice.

Note: APCS 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 CRB 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.

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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 Disclosures 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: APCS supply the Code of Practice with your first order.

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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. The CRB recommends that disclosures should be renewed every 3 years, or when a person changes their employer however, some organisations have regulators that may require renewals at shorter periods.

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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 £16 ( plus £2.80 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.

How to order a Volunteer Disclosure:

Simply contact our Specialist Disclosures Team: Contact Page

Go back to Services and Costs page

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Disclosures for Self Employed Individuals

Self employed people can obtain a Basic Disclosure on themselves through us.

The CRB cannot process a Standard or Enhanced Disclosure for a self employed person. Individuals requiring a Standard or Enhanced Disclosure must apply through an employer or agency.

How to apply for a Basic Disclosure:

The process is very straight forward!

Please call us on 0845 643 1145 and provide us with the following details.

  • Your Name
  • Address
  • Postcode
  • Telephone Number
  • Date Of Birth

Help Desk and Specialist Disclosures Team: please see: Contact Page

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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 their ID documents and 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 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 £10.00 ( plus £1.75 VAT ) and the applicant pays £5 at the Post Office counter. Should the employer prefer the applicant not to be charged, the cost is £16 ( plus £2.40 VAT ) which is invoiced to the employer - Please see Services and Costs page.

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