Guidance and eligibility

Criminal record checks

Before asking a person to make an application for a criminal record check with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), employers have a legal responsibility to ensure that they are entitled to ask an individual to reveal their criminal record history.

The DBS carry out criminal record checks according to job role/position eligibility:

  • basic checks
  • standard checks
  • enhanced checks
  • enhanced - with children’s and/or adult’s barred list check(s)

You can find more information about these checks by reading the DBS guide to eligibility document on the GOV.UK website.

Self-employed individuals

The purpose of a DBS check is to provide employers with information about an applicant’s criminal history. This is to enable them to make a sound recruitment decision based on the results of the DBS check.

Therefore, standard and enhanced DBS checks are only available for companies to access on behalf of their employees or workers that they use. Any request for an eligible DBS check must come from them directly.

Applicants cannot do a criminal record check on themselves. If you need to run a check on yourself, you can request a ‘Basic Disclosure’, the lowest level of criminal record check.

The Basic Disclosure shows any ‘unspent’ convictions you may have. It is the only level of criminal record check available for individuals to apply for.

We can process a Basic Disclosure on your behalf. For further information please email DBS@stockport.gov.uk or call our team of experts on 0161 474 3166.

Volunteer applications

Checks for eligible volunteers are free of charge. To qualify for a free-of-charge criminal record check, the applicant must not benefit directly from the position the DBS application is being submitted for. The applicant must not:

  • benefit directly from the position for which the DBS application is being submitted
  • receive any payment (except for travel and other approved out-of-pocket expenses)
  • be on a work placement
  • be on a course that requires them to do this job role
  • be in a trainee position that will lead to a full time role/qualification

You can find more information about eligible and ineligible volunteer roles on the GOV.UK website.