Tag Archives: Filtering

Changes to information reported on DBS Certificates

Now  we are into 2021 and thinking of the possibility of life after lockdown, it is a good time to review safer recruitment practice. In particular, review  the wording of self-disclosure questions for job applicants and  seek quality references.

Because from 28 November 2020, the filtering rules for DBS checks changed.

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) will no longer disclose youth reprimands, youth warnings, or youth cautions.  And where  an individual has more than one conviction – they will no longer  be automatically disclosed.  Instead each individual conviction will be assessed against the appropriate rules.

The egislation has changed as are the result of a Supreme Court Judgment which identified that some elements of the existing filtering rules were disproportionate.

More information about these guidelines, can be found in the following government filtering guides:

 

Implications of CRB/ DBS Filtering for Employers

Following the introduction of filtering certain convictions and cautions from DBS certificates on 29th May 2013, Employers will not be able to take certain old and minor cautions and convictions into account when making decisions about any individual. HR policies,  job specifications and application forms will therefore all need to reflect the filtering changes.

It is important that employers ask the right questions, and that employees give the right (legally accurate) answer. The DBS  suggests that Employers  include the following paragraph below in their standard application forms:

‘The amendments  to the Exceptions Order 1975 (2013) provide that certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’ and are not subject to disclosure to employers, and cannot be taken into account. Guidance and criteria on the filtering of these cautions and convictions can be found at the Disclosure and Barring Service website.’