Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about background checks
What checks are legally allowed in the UK?
Checks must be lawful, proportionate, and relevant to the role. DBS levels depend on safeguarding requirements.
How do spent convictions work?
Under the ROA 1974, many convictions become “spent” and cannot be considered for most roles.
What’s the difference between Basic, Standard, and Enhanced DBS?
Each level provides different information depending on the role’s safeguarding needs.
Do you provide background checks?
No — we do not conduct background checks ourselves. We are an independent consultancy, which means we don’t operate as a screening provider. Instead, we help organisations design, review, audit, and optimise their screening programmes, select the right vendors, and ensure compliance with legislation and best practice. This independence allows us to give unbiased, vendor‑neutral advice focused solely on your organisation’s needs.
What is a background screening programme review?
A programme review is a detailed assessment of your current screening processes, policies, and vendor performance. We evaluate whether your checks are compliant, proportionate, and aligned to role‑based risk, then provide clear recommendations to improve efficiency, consistency, and compliance.
Why should we audit our background screening provider?
Audits help ensure your provider is meeting contractual obligations, delivering accurate results, and operating in line with legal and regulatory requirements. They also highlight gaps, inefficiencies, or risks that may not be visible from day‑to‑day operations.
What does a Right to Work audit involve?
A Right to Work audit reviews how your organisation verifies employee work eligibility, including documentation checks, digital identity verification (IDVT), repeat checks for time‑limited permissions, and record‑keeping. It ensures you meet Home Office requirements and avoid civil penalties.
Do you help us create or update our screening policies?
Yes. We provide expert guidance on designing screening standards and policies that are compliant, fair, and aligned to role‑specific risk. This includes global harmonisation for organisations operating across multiple jurisdictions.
Can you advise on global screening regulations?
Absolutely. We support organisations navigating UK, EU, US, APAC, and other international screening laws. We translate complex regulatory requirements into practical, actionable guidance tailored to your roles and risk profile.
Do you help organisations choose a background screening provider?
Yes. We support the full vendor selection process, including RFP creation, vendor comparison, SLA/KPI design, contract review, and ongoing performance monitoring. Our advice is independent and vendor‑neutral.
What is risk‑based screening?
Risk‑based screening ensures that checks are proportionate to the level of risk associated with each role. High‑risk roles may require enhanced checks, while lower‑risk positions may need only basic verification. This approach improves compliance, fairness, and operational efficiency.
Can you train our HR or hiring teams?
Yes. We offer training on interpreting background check results, managing compliance, conducting Right to Work checks, and understanding screening standards. Training can be delivered virtually or on‑site.
Do you work with organisations of all sizes?
We support organisations ranging from small businesses to global enterprises. Our services scale to your needs, whether you require a single audit or a full programme redesign.
How long does a screening audit or review take?
Timelines vary depending on the size of your organisation and the complexity of your screening programme. Most audits and reviews take between 2–6 weeks, with accelerated options available for urgent compliance needs.
Do you provide ongoing support after the review or audit?
Yes. We can provide ongoing advisory support, vendor monitoring, policy updates, and periodic compliance checks to ensure your programme remains effective and up‑to‑date.
Are your services independent?
Completely. We are vendor‑neutral and operate solely in your organisation’s best interests. Our recommendations are unbiased and based on compliance, risk, and best practice.