Frequently Asked Questions on Disclosures

As an individual, you can apply for a Basic Disclosure at any time.  This should be done directly through Disclosure Scotland.

For organisations, the level of disclosure depends on the position which the applicant will hold (or already holds).  The organisation should consider all the relevant legislation.  CRBS is able to assist organisations which require help with this process.

For more information please contact a member of our enrolment and assessment team on 01786 849777 (option 1).

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CRBS will process disclosure applications at standard and enhanced level free of charge for volunteers working with not-for-profit organisations.

For more information please contact a member of our enrolment and assessment team on 01786 849777 (option 1).

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The cost of a disclosure certificate is £23.00

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The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act states that some offences will be "spent" after a period, and that people do not need to declare them when they apply for a job (paid of voluntary). However, some positions are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, mostly because they involve work with vulnerable people. Employers recruiting for these positions are said to be able to ask the "exempted question", i.e. to have full details of the applicant's criminal record. In practice this means that they can get a disclosure at either standard or enhanced level.

For more information please contact a member of our enrolment and assessment team on 01786 849777 (option 1).

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This relates to enhanced disclosures. Part V of the Police Act 1997 details the positions which qualify for an enhanced disclosure. These positions are said to be for a "prescribed purpose" and include childcare and adults at risk positions.

For more information please contact a member of our enrolment and assessment team on 01786 849777 (option 1).

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The law in Scotland does not make it compulsory to do a disclosure check on anyone. However, if your organisation is a Care Service, you would be able to carry out a standard disclosure check on any staff, and an enhanced disclosure on anyone who had contact with children or adults at risk.

For more information please contact a member of our enrolment and assessment team on 01786 849777 (option 1).

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CRBS has a duty to ensure that all applications for disclosure checks are valid under existing legislation. It is for this reason that we ask for an assessment of every post to ensure that checks can be carried out.

It should be noted that it is an offence to apply for a disclosure check when this is not permitted by legislation.

For more information please contact a member of our enrolment and assessment team on 01786 849777 (option 1).

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Disclosure certificates can only be shown to people who are entitled to see them in the course of their duties. This would NOT normally include funding bodies.

*** WARNING *** You may be committing an offence by revealing disclosure information to people who are not entitled to see it.

For more information please contact a member of our enrolment and assessment team on 01786 849777 (option 1).

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This is defined in Schedule 2 of the Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003. If you are in doubt about whether a position qualifies as a "childcare" position, you should phone CRBS for advice.

For more information please contact a member of our enrolment and assessment team on 01786 849777 (option 1).

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