Understanding what, when and how to disclose a criminal record

Is this course for you?

If you provide employment-focused advice and want to better support your service users who have a criminal record or your role involves giving information, advice and support to people with a criminal record, then this course is for you.

The course is divided into seven sections with a total of 18 lessons. it should take approximately 1-hour to complete but you’ll have access to the course for 6 weeks so you’ll be able to work through the lessons at your own speed.

At the end of each lesson there’s a short quiz to test your knowledge.

If you pass the final quiz, you’ll get a certificate to evidence your competence and understanding of the criminal record disclosure regime in England and Wales.

How will it help in your work?

Advising an individual of what, when and how to disclose a criminal record can be difficult. Not only will you need to advise your client on what they will legally need to disclose but also have an awareness of the anxiety this is likely to cause both before making the disclosure and after.

Once you’ve completed this online course you should:

• Be up to date with the latest legislation around the disclosure of criminal records.
• Understand the complexities of the disclosure system and the different types of criminal record checks employers can apply for.
• Be able to advise clients on the best time to disclose their criminal record.
• Improve your chances of finding (and keeping) a job for the people you support.
• Have more confidence in advising people with a criminal record on what they need to disclose.

What does the course cover?

The course will provide you with an overview of the legal framework surrounding the disclosure of a criminal record. Specifically we will look at:

• The ways an individual can find the details of their criminal record.
• The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) and what is meant by a spent and unspent conviction.
• The different levels of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks and what they disclose.
• The filtering rules and what cautions and convictions will appear on standard and enhanced DBS checks.

You’ll be able to work through each lesson at your own pace, going back over anything you need to. There’s a short quiz at the end of each lesson to test your understanding.

The subject matter is complex so make sure you factor in some breaks as you work through the lessons.