Update on Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for Business Licensing.
Our Business Licensing news item posted on 28th November 2013 made reference to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks which, according to the SIA, must be carried out for relevant individuals (‘controlling minds’) within organisations applying for a Business License. (See page 3 of Get Business Licensed document).
For those not familiar with the DBS, you might be interested to know that the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) merged in February 2011 to become the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). CRB checks as they were known, are now referred to as DBS checks.
The SIA will be facilitating all DBS checks for companies applying for their Business Licenses. It is important that all companies submitting an application include an up to date document detailing, or depicting, their organisation’s structure. The SIA are asking for this information so they can asses who the ‘controlling minds’ are within the company and their relevance to the Business License application.
In order to be ready for the implementation of Business Licensing, NSI approved companies working in the relevant sectors and those organisations looking to obtain Business Licensing are advised to begin working on their company structure (e.g. parent and grandparent) relationships. The ‘controlling minds’ of legally associated organisations must be outlined and applicants should be aware that they may also need to undergo DBS checks, if applicable.
Why are DBS checks required?
Even though some ‘controlling minds’ will have already completed a DBS check in order to obtain an individual license, a new check is required in order to apply for a Business License. The reasons for this are below;
- Records of previous DBS checks are only kept for a maximum of 6 months by the SIA.
- The DBS is only valid for a short period of time, therefore for Business Licensing, a new check will need to be conducted to ensure fit and proper management of the company.
- For Business Licensing, the SIA will look at a wider range of offenses, details can be found in the Get Business Licensed document on page 23 (see below.)
For more information – Get Business Licensed document
Based in Northern Ireland or Scotland?
Organisations based in Scotland and Northern Ireland should be aware that different rules apply.
For any questions regarding Business Licensing please call NSI on 01628 764838 or email sean.mullin@nsi.org.uk.