Step 8:

Request, with the applicant’s agreement, Disclosure checks for those applicants that you would like to appoint to child care positions

Under the Act, organisations and individuals could be prosecuted if they knowingly recruit an individual who is fully listed. The only way to find out if an applicant for a paid or voluntary post is provisionally or fully listed is via a Disclosure check.

Disclosure certificates are issued by Disclosure Scotland which is located within the Scottish Criminal Record Office.

The aim of the Disclosure Scotland service is to enhance public safety and help organisations make safer recruitment decisions. As stressed in the introduction to this module, Disclosure information should be regarded only as one part of the wider process for checking the suitability of applicants.

Disclosure Scotland issues certificates called Disclosures at three levels; namely Basic, Standard and Enhanced. (see levels of Disclosure checks) which you are charged for but CRBS provides free Standard and Enhanced checks for volunteers who work in the voluntary sector.

Identity checks

Disclosure Scotland recommends that organisations should not rely solely on a Disclosure check for checking the identity of workers. It recommends that those countersigning Disclosure applications (see below) must ask those involved in the recruitment process to ask for documentary evidence of identity from applicants.

This could include (for example):

at least one item of photographic evidence (e.g. a current passport, new style UK driving licence etc.); plus
at least one item of address-related evidence (a utility bill, bank, credit card or mortgage statement containing the name and address of the applicant).

Disclosure Scotland recommends that in the absence of photographic evidence, a full birth certificate issued at the time of birth will carry more weight than one issued more recently.

Disclosure Scotland recommends that organisations should record and retain details of identity checks made on individuals in case of further enquiry. Organisations should note that, in the event of making a referral to the List, Scottish Ministers request details of identity checks carried out by organisations.

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