Do I need written or verbal consent from my candidate for a UK Criminal Record Check?

If you wish to proceed with placing an order, in particular a 'UK Criminal Record Check', using a candidate's information, then you'll need to follow these steps.
 

Step 1: Before placing an order on behalf of the candidate, you'll need to gain written consent from them, giving permission to use their personal information for their background screening checks. This is vital in case the Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) performs an audit and you need to prove that consent was given.

Note: Please check with your internal HR processes what would be the best written consent from your candidate. e.g., email, letter, handwritten, or typed, etc. If you cannot get written consent from your candidate, then you can accept verbal consent. Again, you'll need to discuss with your HR regarding recording verbal consent for auditing purposes.  

Step2: Once you've got consent from your candidate, you'll then need to log into the Verifile client portal with your login credentials.

Demo page showing many of the mandatory fields to be completed.

Step 3: Choose which level of service you would like for your candidate and proceed with selecting your checks. In this case, the UK Criminal Record Check.

Step 4: The system will then take you to the following page. This is where you'd use the information provided by your candidate and fill out the necessary fields.

Please note as much information that can be provided will help to aid the candidate's checks. The following information would need to be provided: If the candidate has been known by any other names legally, all identity documents information, and address history for 5 years (if requested). 

Step 5: Once all the information that you have obtained from the candidate has been provided and filled out on the online application form. Then, you, as the client, will need to state what the UK Criminal Check is for, whether you wish for the candidate to have text updates, or if a paper copy should be sent to the candidate's address. 

• Please be advised that for basic and standard DBS checks, if a paper copy was not originally requested at the point of submission, then once it has been processed by the DBS team, the candidate cannot request a paper copy.
   

Step 6: The client will need to select which documents they have seen from their candidate for the UK Criminal Record Check, 'Tick' the ‘Terms and Conditions’ box and then 'Finish and Submit'. 

Please ensure that any copies of the candidate's ID are uploaded before submitting the form. 

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