Disclosure and Barring

Disclosure and Barring and passport details. The purpose of requiring detailed personal information is to ensure that there Service Certificate can be no mistake over the identity of the person.

What information will be disclosed?

The Post for which you are applying requires Disclosures will provide details of a person’s criminal disclosure of information from the Disclosure record including convictions, cautions, reprimands and Barring. and warnings held on the Police National Computer (PNC). If the post for which you are applying What is Disclosure and Barring? involves working with children, disclosures will also contain information from lists held by the Department A Disclosure and Barring Service Certificate is a of Health and the Department of Education and document containing information held by the police Skills of those considered unsuitable for this type of and government departments. It can be used by work. Dependant upon the level of disclosure employers to ensure safer recruitment for those required for the post information held by local police posts where the post holder would have access to forces known as “intelligence” may also be children or vulnerable adults. A disclosure check disclosed. enables a background check of the job applicant to be carried out to ensure that they do not have a Who will see the personal information stored history that would make them unsuitable for the post. about me? Dependant upon the post, West House can request different levels of disclosure, standard or enhanced. West House uses an online DBS Disclosures A standard disclosure would be requested for those Service. Where disclosure is returned with a positive posts where the post holder may come into contact trace, discussions will be held as to the applicant’s with children or vulnerable adults. Enhanced suitability with a senior manager within West House. disclosure would be requested for posts where there is a far greater contact with children or vulnerable By requesting a DBS Certificate, is this a breach adults and where the post required the post holder to of my Human Rights? be in sole charge of such people. No. West House is obliged under the Protection of Who runs the DBS? Children Act 1999 to check with the DBS for the existence and content of any criminal record prior to The DBS is an executive non-departmental public appointment to posts which have access to children body of the Home Office. and vulnerable adults. By applying for a post that requires disclosures all applicants have to provide How do I know if the post for which I am applying their consent to a DBS check. By consenting to requires a DBS Certificate? disclosure this is not a breach of your human rights.

The application pack will contain a Job Profile and How do I know that the information contained Person Specification for the post for which you are about me will be treated confidentially? applying and this will detail if disclosure is required. West House processes all our DBS with UCheck and At what stage of the recruitment processes will is required to comply with the DBS Codes of the disclosure check be carried out? Practice. Under the provisions of the code,

You will be required to complete the Disclosure & Barring Service application form following the sensitive personal information must be handled and interview. This will require providing a significant stored appropriately. West House processes this amount of personal details on the form such as information using only named senior managers to previous addresses for the last 5 years, national ensure privacy and confidentiality. The Code of insurance number, bank details, driving licence Practice is published on the government website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ disclosure-and-barring-service

If I have a criminal conviction will disclosure prevent me from employment with West House

West House is the operating name of West Cumbria Care and Support a charitable Industrial and Provident Society no 28282R

Update 19/02/2014 Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar you No. Acquittals of crimes will not show as a conviction from employment. This will depend on the nature of on an individual’s standard disclosure record. Where the position and the circumstances and background an enhanced check is required for the post for which of your offence(s). A policy has been introduced to you are applying. local police forces may choose to ensure that conviction information is not misused hold this information as local intelligence and may and that ex-offenders are not treated unfairly, a copy choose to disclose this to the registered body. of which is available upon request. Ex-offenders will retain the protection afforded by the Rehabilitation of Will police cautions show on my disclosure? Offenders Act 1974. The Code of Practice for Registered Persons and other recipients of Yes, as police cautions can be issued for serious Disclosure information will govern Registered offences as well as minor offences they cannot be Bodies’ Conduct and prevent abuse of the system. disregarded. Any information will be treated with the strictest confidence and you will only be prevented from Will I receive a copy of information held about obtaining employment if West House considers you me? have a criminal record that makes you unsuitable for the post for which you have applied. Applicants are You will receive a disclosure certificate in the post. reminded that failure to comply with this requirement West House will receive an email from the online will result in their application being withdrawn from UCheck Disclosure Service. If the disclosure is clear the recruitment process. Failure to disclose a this will be processed accordingly. If the disclosure is criminal conviction spent or otherwise will result in not clear, a meeting will be arranged with a senior disciplinary action and potential dismissal. manager and you will be asked to bring your disclosure to the meeting. What if I have previously lived overseas? If I don’t agree with the information held about The DBS does not generally have access to me could I appeal? overseas criminal records. They can, however, advise on how to obtain equivalent information from Yes. If you believe the information held about you is overseas incorrect you can call the disclosure dispute line authorities where available. You may wish to discuss immediately on: 0870 90 90 778. this with your prospective employer. However, even if you have no prior residence in the UK, you will be required to apply for a Disclosure to enable your prospective employer to check the lists held by the DFES and the DoH. You must also contact West House to make them aware that you are going through this procedure. You can contact the office on 01900 67777.

How long will a disclosure last?

Each disclosure will show the date on which it was Can I refuse to apply for Disclosure? printed. West House renew your DBS Certificate on a three year basis. Yes. However West House will be unable to progress your application any further and you would How often will I have to apply for disclosure? be withdrawn from the recruitment process. Disclosure checks are carried out on all West House How long will a DBS Certificate take? employees holding posts where disclosure is required every three years. DBS Certificate will normally be returned within 4 weeks of being submitted. The successful applicant Further Information cannot commence employment with West House If you would like further information about the DBS until the results of the DBS Certificate; medical contact: clearance and employment references have been verified. www.gov.uk/government/organisations/disclosure- and-barring-service I have been acquitted of a crime; will this still show on my disclosure? UCheck- 0843 1780818

West House is the operating name of West Cumbria Care and Support a charitable Industrial and Provident Society no 28282R

Update 19/02/2014