• Transgender Guidance

[CA]

A transgender candidate may or may not wish to disclose their gender history to the employer when filling out the application screening form for a DBS criminal record check.

They, however, must disclose this information to DBS, to ensure they complete a thorough background check.

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) has a specialist team dealing with sensitive applications for transgender candidates and provides a confidential service under the Gender Recognition Act 2004 for all levels of background checks: Basic, Standard and Enhanced.

If you do not wish your previous identity history to be disclosed to the employer and/or revealed on the DBS Certificate, you will only need to provide your current name details on the Verifile online screening form, then later contact the DBS Sensitive Applications Team once your application is submitted to them.

They can be reached by calling 0300 106 1452. 

Please note: There is an option to leave a voicemail and a member of staff will contact you later.

Or you can email: sensitive@dbs.gov.uk.

You will need to contact either Verifile or the company requesting your checks beforehand, in order to request your DBS application number.

If you are happy for your gender history to be revealed to the employer and disclosed on the DBS certificate, you will need to add all of your previous names known from/by into the name change history section of the application form and in this case there is no need to call the DBS Sensitive Applications Team.

For further information, visit Transgender applications - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

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