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What a DBS check shows

Summarise what appears on Basic, Standard, Enhanced and Enhanced with barred lists, and how police information and barred list status can be included.

Written by Ben Nicholas

A DBS check can show different information depending on the level:

  • Basic DBS Check

    • Shows unspent convictions and unspent conditional cautions

  • Standard DBS Check

    • Shows spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings recorded on the Police National Computer

    • Some information may be removed under filtering rules

  • Enhanced DBS Check

    • Shows everything a Standard check shows

    • May include other relevant information held by local police, if they judge it relevant and proportionate to the role

  • Enhanced DBS Check with Barred List(s)

    • Includes all Enhanced information

    • Also checks one or both barred lists (children and/or adults)

    • Shows whether the person is legally barred from working with those groups

Employers must not knowingly employ someone in a regulated role with children or vulnerable adults if a barred list check shows they are barred.

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