Understanding the certificate
If you can't find the answer to your query on this page, try looking in our glossary, which explains many of the general and legal terms used in disclosures and across our website.
See our Glossary for definitions of terms used
- APEX Scotland
- Certificate validity period
- Job specific disclosures
- Impact of disclosure on selection process
- Sharing certificate information - individuals
- Sharing certificate information - registered and umbrella bodies
- Portability - Re-use of a Disclosure Certificate
- Storing and disposing of Disclosure certificates
APEX Scotland
The aim of APEX Scotland is to reduce re-offending by working with offenders and young people at risk of offending to help them address their employability needs and progress them towards employment, education or training.
Certificate validity period
Your disclosure certificate is correct as of the day it was issued
Job specific disclosures
If you needed a Standard or Enhanced Disclosure certificate as part of a job interview process, you will not necessarily be able to use that certificate to support an application for another job. Enhanced certificates in particular include information believed to be relevant for the job being applied for.
Impact of disclosure on selection process
Unless there is a legislative bar, a conviction should not automatically disqualify anyone from an employment position. Any conviction should be considered in terms of its relevancy to the post applied for.
Sharing certificate information - individuals
If you have a Basic, Standard or Enhanced Disclosure certificate in your own name, there are no rules governing who you can show this certificate to.
Sharing Certificate Information - registered and umbrella bodies
Disclosure information must be handled only by those persons within an organisation entitled to see it in the course of their duties. Sharing of this information with any other individual or organisation is an offence under Section 124 of Part V of the Police Act 1997.
Portability - Re-use of a Disclosure Certificate
Disclosure Scotland provides an Explanatory Guide to those who may use the Disclosure service. The Explanatory Guide is designed to expand upon The Code of Practice published by the Scottish Ministers under Section 122 of the Police Act 1997.
The Explanatory Guide states that:-
"Disclosures carry no pre-determined period of validity or absolute guarantee of accuracy. Standard and Enhanced Disclosures will be position specific and considered valid only at the time of their issue. The Code of Practice prescribes that Disclosure information must not be used for purposes other than those for which it has been provided. It is recommended that a new Disclosure be sought for each new recruit or when someone is moving to another post.”
Storing and disposing of Disclosure certificates
Registered bodies must have written security policy on the handling, holding and destroying of Disclosure information. Disclosure information should only be retained for a maximum period of 90 days after the recruitment decision has been made. Umbrella Bodies cannot retain disclosure information after it has been disclosed to those on whose behalf the application was countersigned.
