What Is An Employee Check?

Employee checks are carried out to establish whether or not a prospective employee is suitable for a particular position.  Usually this is when the employee may be working with children or vulnerable adults.  Vulnerable adults include people who are elderly, frail, disabled people (all types of disabilities) or people who may be experiencing poor mental health.

The check is carried out in conjunction with the police to see if the employee has not declared any convictions.  Records of sex offenders (some of whom may have received a minor conviction) may also be examined, particularly if the job involves working with children.  

Sometimes checks are carried out if a person is applying to work in a position where money may be handled or advice may be given about handling finances.  These checks would involve not just police records, but also whether or not the person has been declared bankrupt.

When employed, it is lawful in many countries for an employer to check on employees being fit for work, through carrying out tests for alcohol and/or drugs.

These checks are issued by the CRB, Criminal Records Bureau. And are to see if there is any criminal record that working with children or vulnerable adults may not allow for example sex offenders or violence crimes etc.