Engineering designers in the UK are required to take a basic DBS check. Basic DBS checks are a formal check for any criminal records carried out by the Disclosure and Barring Service.

The Disclosure and Barring Service are a public body sponsored by the Home Office. The DBS has a mandate to keep the public, particularly children and vulnerable adults, safe. The Disclosure and Barring Service carry out statutory searches for a vast variety of roles which involve a level of engagement with the public.

Those who come into close contact with children or vulnerable adults are subject to the most comprehensive checks.

As an engineering designer you will not fall into the high risk category because you won’t have unsupervised or close contact with the public therefore a DBS check for an engineering designer is a basic DBS check.

Your basic DBS check will involve a statutory search to see if you have any unspent criminal convictions or conditional cautions. This is a first tier check so it won’t involve any spent convictions.

Spent convictions are former convictions where the rehabilitation period for the sentence has been completed so the conviction is now “spent”. Higher levels of CRB checks also include spent convictions.

For your basic DBS check, spent convictions will not be included and your employer has no right to request you disclose any.

To understand more about spent and unspent convictions and your rights under the 1974 Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, visit unlock.org/unspent-spent-convictions.

We can support you to complete your basic DBS check online in a wide range of ways. We work with both individuals and organisations. One of our most popular services is our online basic DBS application form. Apply here.

Whether you want to fill out your basic DBS application online, talk to us about your DBS check or process bulk applications for your organisation, call us today on 0333 030 0446 or visit our home page to find out more.