There are plenty of positions nowadays where DBS checks pose an important hurdle. From roles in childcare to positions in the legal sector, it can be a nerve-wracking experience waiting to see what the DBS check will bring up.
Of course, the worst-case scenario is that it comes back and you are refused the position you’ve applied for as a result of that information. Here, we go through some of the different options available to you, from appeals processes to seeking other employment.
Why has it been refused?
First, it’s important to check what exactly it is that has been refused. Has something been brought to the attention of your employer by a service like Personnel Checks, which means they can’t employ you? Has the check itself not worked, due to incorrect personal details? Or is your employer simply no longer looking for someone to fill that role?
All of these are important details to confirm before you take further action. You should receive a hard copy of Standard and Enhanced checks, and digital evidence of Basic ones, making this process a lot easier.
Send in an appeal
If you believe that the DBS check is incorrect, you can send an appeal to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) itself. There is a form that you can fill in, detailing the exact error, which must be returned to the DBS within three months of receiving your results.
For example, if you have the same name as someone else, and have lived at the same address as them (which is improbable but absolutely possible, if you have a common name), then the check could have brought up their criminal history rather than yours.
Check the legislation for the position in question
You’ll also want to check how much leniency there is for the position that you’re applying for. In some cases, if you’re on a barred list from working with children, for example, it will be against an employer to offer you that position.
In other circumstances, however, there may be more leniency. This applies particularly with basic checks, where they are essentially just for employers to get a better idea of who it is that they are employing. So long as you’re honest from the very beginning, it could be reasonably simple to navigate.
Move on and seek other employment
If you’re legally ineligible for a role due to your criminal history, then ultimately, you may have to move on and seek employment in a different role. This can be very frustrating, but there are simply no ways of working around the legislation governing certain sectors.
Navigating DBS checks can feel like a complex process, but for a lot of the time, you’ll just be waiting to hear about your results. It’s important that you know your legal rights, and that you know how to act based on the circumstances you find yourself in – you don’t want to be pushed out of a role that suits you well unless absolutely necessary.
Meg is an author at Cinnamon Hollow. She writes on a variety of topics sharing tips and ideas for daily life.
