DBS check
What it really means
A criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service, required for jobs with children or vulnerable adults — schools, care work, tutoring, some volunteering. The employer usually arranges it. Details are on GOV.UK.
Context, tips & common mistakes
The level of check is set by the role, not chosen by you: only employers and licensed bodies can request standard or enhanced checks, while the basic check (unspent convictions only) is the one individuals can obtain for themselves. If a job needs an enhanced check, the employer or agency starts the application and normally covers the fee — be suspicious of 'jobs' that demand you pay a third-party site for your own enhanced DBS up front, a known recruitment scam. If you have lived abroad, roles with children or vulnerable adults often also want an overseas police certificate from countries you lived in, which can take weeks — start early.
Consider the DBS Update Service if you will work through agencies: a small subscription keeps a certificate portable between employers instead of re-checking each time. Cautions and convictions have filtering rules; disclose what the form actually asks for, no more.