An A-z of Background Checks
Access NI Checks
Access NI fulfils the same role as the Disclosure and Barring Service, but in Northern Ireland. Access NI Checks are essential for employers in Northern Ireland to make informed recruitment decisions and uphold safety and trust within their organizations. These checks come in three levels – Basic, Standard, and Enhanced – depending on the role's nature and responsibilities. The Basic Check reveals unspent convictions, while the Standard Check includes both spent and unspent convictions, cautions, and informed warnings. The Enhanced Check is the most detailed, disclosing a full criminal record and relevant police information, typically required for high-responsibility roles.
Activism Checks
Activism checks are aimed at identifying individuals with extreme activist views that could harm your business. While most activists are law-abiding, some engage in illegal or violent activity, something that employers need to be aware. These checks use a range of private and public of sources to ensure candidates are not associated with extreme groups.
Address History Verification
Address history verification involves the thorough cross-referencing of declared addresses with other information, such as the electoral register and other residency databases. This process includes confirming the feasibility of the candidate's work and study locations in relation to their stated residence, considering reasonable commute distances and proximity to educational institutions. Any inconsistencies or missing addresses are investigated to rule out potential fraud or concealment of information.
Adverse Media Checks
Employing individuals with negative media profiles can pose serious risks to businesses, especially in highly regulated environments. Adverse media checks involve scrutinizing a range of sources, including traditional, broadcast, and online media, to uncover any unfavourable candidate behaviour. These checks go beyond newspapers and TV, delving into web content and social media, to identify risks like organized crime, drug trafficking, and financial threats.
Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Checks
Anti-Money Laundering (AML) checks utilize advanced algorithms to screen candidates against over 2,000 international sanctions, PEPs, and watch-lists, ensuring compliance with AML regulations and safeguarding against insider threats. These checks are essential for businesses under HMRC's Money Laundering Regulations, not only for client relationships but also for internal risk mitigation.
Basic DBS Check
Basic DBS Checks are the lowest level of criminal record check available in the UK. A basic DBS check is a criminal record check that you can request for yourself, it can also be requested by an employer as part of their recruitment process. This level of DBS Check reveals any unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings.
BPSS
BPSS Checks, or Baseline Personnel Security Standard checks, are essential in many industries for safe recruitment, especially where UK security or assets are at risk. Technically they are not a type of background check, but rather a collection of different checks that are used to make a decision on an individual. BPSS Checks comprise Identity Checks, 3 Year Occupation History Checks, Right to Work Checks, and Unspent Conviction Checks (Basic DBS Check). These checks are mandatory for anyone with access to OFFICIAL or SECRET UK assets, including those working in the armed forces, civil service, or government departments. Adopting BPSS checks, even when not mandatory, bolsters recruitment standards, helping protect businesses from vulnerabilities.
BS7858
Similarly, to BPSS, BS7858 Checks, are a collection of background checks following the BS 7858:2019 standard set by the British Standards Institute (BSI). These checks are mandatory for the Security Industry Association’s Approved Contractor Scheme. The checks include ID Verification, Right to Work Verification, a 5- or 10-year Occupational History Check, Financial Checks covering aspects like bankruptcy and insolvency, Basic DBS Check, and Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) & Sanctions Checks. BS7858 Checks are recommended for any organization dealing with sensitive information or environments.
Cifas Checks
With fraud being the most common type of crime in the UK, Cifas checks are a vital tool in helping protect your business. The Cifas database is the most extensive in the UK, encompassing consumer and insider fraud, and is trusted by government bodies, financial institutions, and industry leaders. It includes the Internal Fraud Database (IFD) and the National Fraud Database (NFD).
Credit Checks
Employment credit checks offer a crucial insight into a candidate's financial history, essential for various sectors, not just financial services. These checks cover a comprehensive analysis of financial behaviours, highlighting key aspects like missed payments, defaults, CCJs, bankruptcies, and linked addresses. Crucially, they assess financial stability and risk, ensuring that potential financial duress, which could influence an individual's actions, is accounted for. This makes credit checks an important component of a thorough pre-employment screening process, safeguarding businesses from potential risks associated with financial stress in employees.
DBS Checks
DBS Checks are criminal record checks that are carried out by the Disclosure and Barring Service. A DBS check is a way for employers check your criminal record, to help decide whether you are a suitable person to work for them. This includes deciding whether it is suitable for you to work with children or vulnerable adults. There are three levels of DBS Check available, Basic, which are available to anyone, and Standard and Enhanced DBS Checks, which are reserved for specific job roles.
Directorship Checks
Directorship checks are vital for roles with significant influence, ensuring that individuals do not hold conflicting positions that could harm your business. These checks reveal any past or current directorships, including disqualifications, safeguarding against conflicts of interest, particularly at senior levels. By identifying outside interests early, directorship checks help maintain organizational integrity, ensuring employees align with your business priorities, and preventing any potential costs and complications.
Disclosure Scotland Basic Check
Disclosure Scotland fulfils the same role as the DBS but in Scotland. Disclosure Scotland Basic Checks (also known as Basic Disclosure Scotland) are criminal record checks that reveal any unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings on an individual's criminal record.
DVLA Checks
DVLA Checks allow you to access up-to-date driving license information, such as number of points, driving convictions, what vehicles can be driven and, in some cases, the level of risk associated with that specific individual. DVLA Checks are mandatory for many roles, like taxi drivers, but they should be a part of any professional driving or logistics operation.
Education/Qualification Checks
Education and qualification checks are a key component of the candidate screening process, crucial for verifying suitability for roles where specific qualifications or level of education is needed. They serve as a defence against common fraudulent practices, such as falsified educational credentials. Beyond merely inspecting certificates and verifying the legitimacy of the issuing institution, modern qualification checks involve confirming details like enrolment and attendance, offering a comprehensive validation of a candidate’s educational background.
Enhanced DBS Checks
Enhanced DBS Checks are the highest level of DBS Check available to employers in the UK. They reveal any spent or unspent convictions, cautions, warnings and reprimands, as well as any notes from the police that are relevant to the job being applied for. In certain cases, the Children’s and/or Adult’s Barred Lists will be checked.
FCA Checks
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) maintain a register of individuals barred from holding certain positions within the financial sector or any other business/role that is regulated by the FCA. FCA Checks cross-reference a provided identity against this register to determine if they are suitable for a role in financial services.
ID Verification
ID verification is a fundamental part of the employee screening process. A confirmed identity is the foundation for any subsequent checks meaning any discrepancies in identity can invalidate the entire screening process. The process involves two key aspects: confirming the individual matches the identity presented in their documents and verifying the authenticity of these documents. Traditionally done in person, technological advancements now allow for digital verification, which is essential given the sophistication of fraudulent documents.
International Checks
International Checks is a bit of a misnomer, as most of the types of background check on this list can also be performed internationally in some way. he most common types of international check are criminal background checks, qualification verifications, international credit checks, fraud and sanction assessments, and international police and adverse media checks.
Occupational Health Assessments
An Occupational Health Assessment is a medical examination performed by an Occupational Health professional. Its aim is to advise employers on the employee's health and make recommendations on what adjustments could be considered to ensure a safe/healthy working environment for that employee.
Police Checks
Police Checks are a catch-all term commonly used to discuss any type of background check that has police involvement. Generally, this means DBS, Disclosure Scotland and Access NI Checks.
Professional Registration Verification
For many regulated industries, employees must be members of certain professional bodies to be eligible to work in the sector. Updated in real time, Professional Registration checks provide information about a candidate's job roles, levels, whether they are registered with the professional body, as well as any potential sanctions in various professions.
Referencing/Work History Checks
Referencing and work history checks are critical components of employment screening, encompassing two main elements: employment verification (confirming dates and roles with previous employers) and substantive referencing (assessing conduct and competence). While many organizations may only focus on employment verification, both aspects are essential for a thorough background check. Verifying a candidate's work history ensures the information provided is factual, as concealing past employment details can raise concerns about honesty and integrity. This process involves cross-referencing information from applications and CVs, analyzing employment gaps, and reviewing additional evidence like bank statements or travel proof.
Right to Work Verification
Right-to-work checks are a mandatory requirement for employers in the UK, enforced by the Home Office, and are essential before an employee starts their job. Failing to conduct these checks properly can result in significant fines and even criminal prosecution for both the employer and employee. The minimum requirement involves viewing original documents, verifying their authenticity, and formally acknowledging this verification with a signature and date.
Sanctions/PEP Checks
Sanctions checks are the process of screening customers against established sanction lists and watchlists to ensure they are not involved in financial crimes or other illicit activities. These checks are necessary to verify the legitimacy of businesses, individuals, and other entities that your business engages with.
Social Media Screening
Social media screening is a background check that is still in its infancy.This type of check analyses publicly available content to identify any adverse information associated with a candidate. This type of screening focuses on various risk factors such as racism, sexism, hate speech, drug use, and general criminality, assessing suitability for the position and compatibility with the organization's culture and values. Whilst the draw of these checks is undeniable, they are currently non-standardized and unregulated meaning they could be problematic.
Standard DBS Checks
Standard DBS Checks are the least commonly conducted criminal record check in the UK. They reveal any spent or unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings. This level of DBS Check is usually reserved for specific job roles and licences. This includes solicitors and accountants upon qualification, as well as things like certain gambling licences.