A-Z of job roles and their eligibility for basic, standard and enhanced criminal record checks

For anybody with a criminal record, knowing what level of criminal record check a job role is potentially eligible for may be what determines whether you apply for that job or not.

For example, if your conviction is spent but not yet eligible for filtering, it will still appear on a standard or enhanced check and you may decide to only apply for jobs that involve a basic check.

All employers are legally entitled to do basic checks for any job although there are many employers that don’t do any checks at all.

Some employer’s don’t state what level of check they will be doing or ask for levels of check from the Disclosure and Barring Service which clearly don’t comply with the DBS eligible positions guidance.

We’ve produced some new information, which sets out an A-Z of job roles and the potential level of criminal record check that these may involve.

Whatever your situation or whatever will be disclosed on a certificate, don’t let a criminal record check put you off applying for a job. If you believe that you have the necessary skills and experience then go ahead and apply. You should have the opportunity to explain your conviction to an employer prior to any formal check being undertaken and you should use this time wisely to sell yourself, making it known that you’re the best person for the job.

We hope you find this helpful. Let us know what you think by completing our feedback form.

For more information

1. For practical self-help information – Find more information on the:
   1. Rehabilitation of Offenders Act
   2. Filtering of convictions from DBS certificates
   3. Challenging an ineligible DBS check
2. Questions – If you have any questions about this, you can contact our helpline.
3. Policy – Read about the policy work we’re doing on ineligible checks.