How often can a check be applied for and is a Disclosure necessary before applying for a job?
Prospective employers may ask individuals to provide a Disclosure detailing criminal convictions when they give a conditional job offer.
It is up to employers to decide on how often it might be reasonable to ask for a Disclosure in order to reduce unnecessary expense on the part of applicants or employers. Employers are also advised that they should not use the Disclosure process to short list candidates. It is important to note, in this respect, that Paragraph 6 of the Explanatory Guide on the Code of Practice states that “the availability of Disclosure information should be seen as complementary to existing recruitment practice and should only be sought after a candidate has been provided with a conditional offer of employment or a voluntary position.”
