A recent pilot study from the Department of Education (DfE) has found that out-of-school-settings (OOSS) are not as safe as assumed. The study, which had a budget of £3 million, aimed to identify and intervene in OOSS where safeguarding concerns were found. The DfE has promised to take action to tackle the issue.

The UK labour market is facing an unprecedented shortage of workers across all sectors. Employers are struggling to fill full-time roles and are looking for ways to ensure they are hiring the best candidates. One way to do this is through background screening, which can help identify potential red flags and ensure that the candidate is trustworthy, reliable and qualified for the job.

One in five UK children have witnessed or experienced domestic abuse. Operation Encompass is a UK-wide initiative to improve support and protection for children exposed to domestic abuse. It is a safeguarding partnership between the police and education providers. Recently introduced legislation means the initiative is now rolling out across Northern Ireland.

Flexible working is becoming a contentious topic for some employers. At Personnel Checks we’re strong believers that allowing flexibility creates an empowered and loyal workforce. In this article, we share some stories from our employees about their experiences.

On average DBS Checks take between 1-2 weeks to fully complete. However, depending on where you are or where you live the turnaround time of your DBS Check can vary. In this article we look at why this happens and the speed in your area

Your address history is a key part of the information you need to provide on a DBS application form. Entering inaccurate information can cause serious problems with your application. In this article, we outline everything you need to know about how your address history can affect your DBS Check.

Starting a new job can be a nerve-wracking experience. Waiting on a DBS result to come through can add anxiety onto what can already be a stressful situation. But can you start work whilst waiting for your DBS Check to be completed? In this article, we’ll answer all your questions on whether you can start work with an outstanding DBS Check.

Calls for the reporting of child abuse or neglect to be made a legal requirement is being reconsidered following the final publication of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. The Government previously decided against these measures following a consultation response in 2018.

As we approach the festive shopping season, it pays to be aware of the scams you could be exposed to. Here we look at some of the most common scams being targeted at UK consumers right now.

In our increasingly digital world, the importance of strong password management cannot be stressed enough. In this guide, we look at 5 ways to be sure you’re doing all you can to protect your login credentials.

If you’re self-employed or work as a freelancer it can be confusing trying to get a DBS Check organised. Can you have one? What level do you need? Who can process it? In this guide, we answer all of these questions and more.

In this article we’re going to look at three key areas of confusion that surround Basic DBS Checks, volunteering, upgrading your DBS, and the DBS Update Service. If you’ve ever wondered about any of these things, you’re in the right place.

Modern working models mean that sedentary lifestyles are far more common now than ever before. The coronavirus lockdown has compounded this further and a lot of us are less active than ever before. We put this article together to help those working from home to be a little more active.

There are many regulatory requirements outlining which type of criminal record checks are required by certain professions. Most commonly these are Standard or Enhanced DBS Checks but there are still some that mandate a Basic DBS Check. In this article we take a look at some of the more common ones.

There are multiple options open to people looking to obtain a Basic DBS Check but the fastest and easiest way to do so is online. We might be biased but we’ve also got all the evidence to back it up. If you want to learn exactly why it’s best practice to complete your Basic DBS Check online, you’re in the right place.

Over the course of the pandemic many people have utilised their extra time to start businesses, or, passive income streams to help support their income. We take a look at how a Basic DBS Check can enhance your credentials.

If you don’t regularly conduct criminal record checks, terms like CRB and DBS could be confusing. While there are a lot of similarities between CRB and DBS Checks, there are some key differences between the two. In this article, we break down the differences so you know which you need.

In good news for the freelance sector, the new Chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng, has announced that the most recent changes to IR35 legislation are to be repealed. This means that from next year, it will be contractors and not their end-clients who determine tax status.