Portability
Sometimes applicants may seek to re-use their Disclosure Certificate.
The value of a disclosure is directly linked to its contemporaneousness and the re-use of a Disclosure Certificate should only be considered in very limited circumstances.
A Basic Disclosure Certificate is no more than a bare statement to an applicant that shows the unspent criminal record, or lack of criminal record, at a particular point in time.
Before an employer decides to accept a previously issued Basic Disclosure Certificate there are a number of things that they must take into account:
- There is no formal period of validity. Disclosures are designed to be used immediately. The information provided on a Certificate is valid only on the date of issue and information may have changed since then.
- Legislation The employer may be under a legal obligation to obtain a fresh disclosure.
- The Certificate is genuine. It is the employer’s responsibility to satisfy him/herself that the Certificate is an original and has not been tampered with in any way
- The level of Certificate available. If a post requires an Enhanced or Standard Certificate, then a Basic should not be considered.
Standard or Enhanced Certificate should not be re-used because every application to see spent convictions or approved information should be countersigned by a registered person on the basis of a specific role or position.
Only the employer can decide whether or not to accept the Certificate. Any organisation that chooses to accept a previously issued Disclosure Certificate, does so at their own risk.
