DBS Checks What you need to know

DBS Checks What you need to know by Amber Rolfe When it comes to finding your dream role, some might ask for more than an application…In fact, if you’re looking to work with children or vulnerable adults, you’ll need something called a DBS check to confirm you’re an eligible candidate. Not only does it help employers to decide whether you’re a good fit, it’s also a legal obligation for many jobs.To help you understand what they involve (and whether you need one), here’s everything you need to know about DBS checks:What is a DBS check? A DBS check is a record of a person’s criminal convictions and cautions â€" carried out by the Disclosure and Barring Service.It’s an essential requirement for those applying to work with children or vulnerable adults (e.g. in teaching or healthcare) â€" and the information shown is used to ascertain a candidate’s suitability for a particular role.You’ll also need one if you want to foster or adopt a child.  What is a CRB check? CRB checks are what DBS che cks were previously known as, before the DBS replaced the CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) as part of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012.However, their function remains the same.How can I get a DBS check? As DBS checks are used to provide information for an organisation or employer â€" you can’t ask for your own to be carried out.Instead, an employer, organisation, or charity will need to ask for one on your behalf.The process is as follows:An employer gets a DBS form from the DBS (or a registered umbrella body)The employer gives you the form to fill outYou complete the form and give it back, providing documents to prove your identityThe employer sends all information back to the DBS (or a registered umbrella body)The relevant checks are carried outYou receive your DBS certificate â€" which you can then show to the employerIf you want to get a DBS check without an organisation’s involvement, you can apply for a basic disclosure to be done through Disclosure Scotland.However, this will only show unspent convictions â€" and employers will still need to complete their own checks before hiring you.  When is a DBS check needed? Organisations can only request that their employees, job applicants, or volunteers have a DBS check carried out if they’re applying for/working in certain types of roles.For example â€" you’ll always need a DBS check to work as a:TeacherChildminderSocial WorkerMedical professionalFoster CarerThose working in particular settings â€" such as schools, nurseries, hospitals and children’s homes will also need to have a DBS check. Some roles may also require you to have a DBS check when you first enter the profession (e.g. solicitors, barristers, accountants, vets).And, if you’re applying for a job that needs a DBS check, you’ll need to have been successful in every other aspect of your application before an employer starts the process.  How long does a DBS check last? A DBS check never officially expires, so it will be up to an employ er to decide when and if a new one is needed.Both applicants and employers can use the DBS update service to carry out any additional checks on a DBS certificate.  How long does a DBS check take?A DBS check will usually take around 8 weeks to complete.However, this will vary depending on the level of check you’re having carried out, whether your details are correct, and if local authorities have backlogs in processing applications.  What age do you need to be to have a DBS check? You’ll need to be at least 16 years old to be eligible for a DBS check.  How much does a DBS check cost? Your employer will need to pay for your DBS check.The cost of one depends on the level they choose to carry out â€" with standard checks costing £26, and more in-depth checks costing £44.What are the types of DBS checks? There are three levels of DBS checks â€" with each one suited to different types of roles.These are:Standard â€" covering spent and unspent convictions, reprimands, cautions, and f inal warnings.Enhanced â€" covering all of the above plus any relevant information held by police.Enhanced with list checks â€" covering everything in the enhanced check, plus a check of the DBS barred lists.Your employer will decide which type of check to carry out (based on the job you’ll be doing), and will then need to provide you with the details of what it involves.Can I appeal against a DBS check? If you think the information stated in your DBS check isn’t accurate, you can appeal against it.Whether it’s that there’s been a mistake in the criminal records provided, or your personal details are incorrect â€" you’ll need to report any mistakes within three months of receiving the DBS certificate.Either you or your employer can do this (providing they’ve spoken to you first), and local authorities will then follow up to go through any next steps.For more information on DBS checks, please visit gov.uk.  Still searching for your perfect position? View all available jo bs now  Find a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. 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Three more ways to think about career happiness

Three more ways to think about career happiness If you ask most people if they like their jobs, theyll say yes. Alan Kreuger scintillating economics professor at Princeton, whom I interviewed this morning says that this is not because people have jobs they like, but because people have cognitive dissonance and are hard-programmed to like what they have. On the positive side, this hard-wiring to be happy means that we can get through our days. Life is really difficult, and if we werent predisposed to think its fun, we would all jump off bridges. But Kreuger says that the cognitive dissonance could harm us in our work world if we could actually make a better decision for ourselves. And, of course, most of us could choose better. If nothing else, you could look at the reams of new research I spew on this blog and make a decision about your job based on that. And heres a little more research. Three more ways to think about career happiness: 1. Many people want fame, but its bad for you. An article in todays New York Times (read it now, because youll need a subscription in a few days) says that fame is a key motivator for people. Forty percent of people think theyll be famous, but in reality, only one or two people in a hundred achieves fame. Additionally, seeking fame will probably make you unhappy. The participants in the study who focused on goals tied to others approval, like fame, reported significantly higher levels of distress than those interested primarily in self-acceptance and friendship. Aiming for a target as elusive as fame, and so dependent on the judgments of others, is psychologically treacherous. 2. Rich people are not happier but they say they are. Kreuger and a bunch of other economists and psychologists developed a new way to find out how happy people are instead of asking them, have them report how they are feeling at short intervals throughout the day. The findings, published in Science magazine: More affluent people say they are, on balance, happier and less affluent people say they are, on balance, not as happy. But in fact, day in and day out, ones level of affluence does not make one happier. 3. Keep your commute short and your TV off. Duh. These are so obvious, but so few people really do it. Which is the core problem with all this research. If you want to increase your happiness, you need to make significant changes in your life. Sorry. Its bad news, but its true. But it may console you to know that when I was talking to Kruger about how few people make changes even though the advice stems from strong, scientific, psychological research Kreuger said that when it comes to following advice the psychologists are just as bad as everyone else.

Increase Success by Building Relationships and Proper Branding - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Increase Success by Building Relationships and Proper Branding - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career As a matter of course, I suggest to audiences they reflect back on how they have been described by others and on their aspirations for the future to help direct the development of their brand. In the past few days, two people offered this exact observation of me. Observations of others Their pronouncements were that they are always able to count on me to over-deliver on value and continually build relationships. This goes to the heart of my first book, including the sub-title, “Relationship Building That Gets Results”. The topic is my mantra or brand. Are you building a similar reputation in your business or career? Over time, word of mouth precedes you and so it’s important to pay attention to what the general consensus is. As Abe Lincoln put it, “You will never please all the people all the time,” however, your brand (consistencies in all you do) reflects the real you. Your interactions with others How you treat people on the job or in business; all of the services and products you may have created, what are the underlying themes and how do they all tie together? It is the compounding factor that brings home the identity of your brand. The one area where many people need to improve is that of follow-up. I repeatedly hear, “Oh, I just don’t want to be a pushy salesperson and so I wait for the phone to ring.” “I feel as if I’m bothering people when I try to call them back, it isn’t comfortable.” Should you be one of these people, you need to stop to consider what is the marketing-communication message you are really presenting? The other side of the coin may be: You lack confidence to call back Your products or services are not worth the time You do not follow up on small promises, therefore you aren’t trustworthy It’s important to note, if you remain comfortable it will be difficult to improve. And while the latter point is the most concerning to all, each of these viewpoints will prevent any possibility for a sale to take place. The good news is this is all a very easy fix! When you are communicating with another, whether online or in-person, simply ask “Would you like me to follow-up?” It’s permission based and therefore, should they say yes, know it’s a request and not a bother! Your next question should be, “When would you like me to follow up?” Building the relationship one step further, follow the second question with, “How do you prefer to be contacted â€" email, phone, or an appointment?” Now you have precise instructions on the How, When, and Where. It is up to you to discover the “What!” From their point first When you approach prospects and clients from their point of view first, you are no longer a pushy salesperson. Instead they appreciate your courtesy and become intrigued about the possibility of doing business with you. The conflict within you fades away and confidence builds thus enabling you to become far more successful. The above is the tried and true method for building relationships steadily. I was just introduced to video technology that enhances the process by allowing the communication to become more personal. For an example of how I tie everything together, follow this link to watch my personal 1.5 minute video to see these ideas in action. Author: Elinor Stutz is the CEO of Smooth Sale, LLC a motivational speaker and the author of the International Best-Selling book, “Nice Girls DO Get the Sale: Relationship Building That Gets Results” published by Sourcebooks. Elinor’s new book, “HIRED! How to Use Sales Techniques to Sell Yourself On Interviews” is based upon years of community service teaching job-seekers how to land the job they desire. Elinor provides team sales training, private coaching to grow you business, and is available upon request for consultation.

Achieving your career goals in 2019 a guide

Achieving your career goals in 2019 a guide Not happy where you’ve ended up in your career? You are far from alone â€" a majority of people aren’t where they thought they would be when they graduated. Fortunately, it is never too late to correct course â€" in this post, we’ll share tips that will help make 2019 the year you turn your career around. (1) Dust off that resume If you’re been stuck in a career rut, there’s a good chance that you haven’t touched your resume in a while. You deserve better, so it’s time to update this document to reflect how awesome you really are. Go over every task you’ve ever done in your current role. What competencies and transferable skills has it given you? Write it all down. What roles have you assumed outside of work? Coaching your kid’s soccer team, volunteering through your church, that overseas sabbatical you took four years ago â€" all reveal admirable qualities that certain companies are looking for. Take all this data and work it into your resume. As you do, re-write current entries â€" after years of experience in your field, you can represent yourself better than when you first got hired. Now, it’s worth mentioning that this is a massive undertaking â€" after you’re done, reward yourself for your efforts by indulging in your favourite hobby. For some, this is online gaming â€" for them, the thrill of winning big at games like slots, blackjack, and roulette helps to relieve the stress that their work imposes. If you are also passionate about cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, you’ll be happy to know that online casinos like BitStarz accept this and other forms of e-currency. With some of the hottest action on the internet, the excitement of winning crypto will be twofold â€" the night you win it, and the thrill of watching your newly won coins appreciate on the back of a looming bull market. Intrigued? Read more here â€" we wish you nothing but the best of luck! (2) Build your skills Next, peruse job listings and make note of roles you’d like to assume. Don’t be dismayed by not having all the skills an employer is asking for, be happy â€" you’re learning which skills you’re going to be learning in the first few months of 2019. If the job poster is looking for something with Ruby and Python experience, but you only know the latter, load up Codeacademy and learn the basics of this language. After you have closed the skills gap as much as possible, go ahead and apply for these roles â€" more often than not, they are wish lists, not ironclad ‘must have’ lists. (3) Take extended learning courses Sometimes, an employer will require a piece of paper to prove your worthiness for a position. If the field is lucrative enough and positions plentiful, figure out what extra education you need and head back to school. (4) Join Toastmasters Having strong vocal communication skills is crucial to acing the interview. Even if you feel confident in your ability to express yourself, joining Toastmasters won’t hurt. Here, you’ll get to stand up in front of complete strangers and talk to them on a variety of topics. The more you do it, the better you’ll get at communicating with other humans. As a result, your interview performances will improve, increasing the odds of you landing your dream position.

3 revision techniques that need to be talked about more - Debut

3 revision techniques that need to be talked about more - Debut This article was written by an external contributor. Chloe Smith has some revision techniques for anyone going into the January revision period.   So, this is it. January exams have rolled around, and that means one thing. Yep, its good old revision time. What a way to kick off 2019! Now yes, we all know the classic revision techniques. But just because good old flashcards and reading from textbooks are well-known methods doesn’t mean that they work for everyone. Sometimes the best way to absorb information is by doing, seeing and hearing. So if youre tired of being told to revise the same way again and again, then never fear. Here are three underrated revision techniques that need to be talked about more (and will hopefully be a little less mind-numbing). Completing old exam papers and questions Its easy to overlook the technique of completing old exam papers or exam questions. But rest assured, its a tried and tested method. You may have a chance of coming across a question that will be on your test, and if you complete it under timed conditions youll get a feel for what itll be like on the actual day. Now this does depend on whether your university will allow you to access old exam papers in the first place. If you cant, then the best course of action is to think up your own exam questions. Think about what youve studied in seminars, or ask your professor about the types of questions/topics that have come up in past exams. If you know any students in the years above you, or someone whose just graduated, you could also ask their advice. Watching YouTube videos When I was revising for my own exams, watching YouTube videos really helped. Just having both the video and audio there really captured my attention, and helped me absorb a lot of the information. Plus it made me feel like I wasn’t actually revising, which is always a bonus! With YouTube videos, you can watch them whenever you like, completely for free! Plus, there are some fantastic channels out there to help you revise. For example, DamonandJo is a great channel if you study languages, and CrashCourse has a range of videos on a variety of subjects, including Literature, Psychology, History, Computer Science and Sociology and that’s just scratching the surface! Podcasts and audio notes The great thing about podcasts is that they might not explicitly be on the subject you’re revising. For example, if you need to revise the life of Queen Victoria for an exam or an assignment, then listening to a podcast like the History Chick’s extensive discussion of her life could help you revise what you’ve been taught, plus it will be massively entertaining! You may even learn something outside of your syllabus, which could really benefit you in the exam. If youre up for something a little more alternative and challenging, then why not create your own podcast on a subject your studying? The fact that you’ll be writing all the information in your script, reading it over (again and again) and recording and editing the podcast, means that the information will undoubtedly be going in, even without the traditional revision techniques. Connect with Debut on  Facebook,  Twitter,  and  LinkedIn  for more careers insights.

Det - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Det - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Last Tuesday I spoke at The Power of Passion conference in Stockholm which is an annual event arranged by the wonderful people at 4good. I gave the last presentation after (among others) Pigge Werkelin, a famous Swedish entrepreneur and Renata Chlumska, a lady who has circumnavigated the entire lower 48 American states in a kayak and on a bicycle. After I gave my presentation (which was very well-received, if I do say so myself) I was interviewed by journalist Jennie Sj?str?m who asked some great questions about happiness at work. Jennie also brought along a photographer who was determined to get some especially happy looking photos. Hence this: You can read the entire article here (its in Swedish though). Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

How to deal with job rejection

How to deal with job rejection Job rejection is an inevitable and discouraging part of the job search processweve all been there. Even so, each rejection is a lesson learned; with this in mind, you can maintain the confidence necessary to move forward to your ideal job. When dealing with job rejection, the two most important things to do are to ask for feedback from your interviewer and keep in mind that being passed over for a job isn’t necessarily within your control. Getting Feedback Although job rejection might cause you to feel disappointed in your efforts, you can still gain something positive from each experience. Ask hiring managers what you can do to improve your chances in the future â€" some might be more than willing to give you some pointers if they felt you were a viable candidate who simply lost out to someone more qualified. When you speak to the hiring manager, you can ask whether there are other opportunities within the company that might be a better fit for you. Even if there are no other open positions at that company, it doesn’t hurt to let them know of your interest in working for them. Your perseverance might pay off by landing you an even better job later on. Your interviewer is not your only valuable source of information; you can also talk with your friends and family. Some people are reluctant to do this because they feel that speaking about job rejection means admitting failure â€" as mentioned, this isn’t the case. Your friends and family can provide valuable guidance to steer you in the right direction. The more people you open up to, the more potential you will have to get interview tips or even job leads. What You Can Do in the Future There are a few ways that you can improve your chances of being called back after a job interview. Most importantly, remember that job rejection is not a measure of your worth, so don’t take it personally. The job market is always competitive, even when the economy is thriving. Your confidence in yourself, or the lack thereof, will show, so always maintain a positive outlook in your job search. After each interview, step back from the experience and think of the things that you could have done differently. Many people become nervous at job interviews and as a result, they slip up in one way or another. Whether you stutter or don’t make enough eye contact, recognize those mistakes so that you don’t make them again. In your future interviews, send a thank-you note to the interviewer as soon as possible. Thank him or her for speaking with you, and say that you look forward to hearing about the position. It’s assumed that job applicants are searching in more than one place for a job at any one time, so following up shows that you are genuinely interested in the job. Dealing with job rejection can be tough, but it is something that everyone encounters at one point or another. Seeking feedback and realizing that some factors are beyond your control will help you to move forward in your job search and find an ideal fit for you.