Criminal records checking service

The council's CRB unit checks and processes CRB (Criminal Record Bureau) applications and disclosures for Ealing Council staff and/or staff working on behalf of Ealing Council.

As the council is a registered body with the CRB it can also carry out criminal records checks on behalf of non-registered organisations – this is called an umbrella service.

Any organisation that carries out less than 100 criminal records checks per year cannot become a registered body with the CRB and has to use an umbrella service (such as Ealing Council).

Anyone having regular contact with children and vulnerable adults should have a CRB disclosure before they are offered employment. This includes anyone who works as a volunteer. In CRB terms a volunteer is someone undertaking work or activities that are unpaid and not for financial gain or working towards a qualification, (e.g. a parent who is working voluntarily in a classroom). As a registered body the council's role is to:

check and validate the information provided by the applicant on the application form
establish the true identity of the applicant, through the examination of a range of documents using guidance provided by the CRB
ensure the application form is fully completed and the information it contains is accurate
countersign application forms to confirm the organization has an entitlement to access criminal record information

Who can use this service?
In addition to council departments (including schools) the following organisations can use the council's CRB unit (as an umbrella service) to process their criminal records checks on their behalf (subject to a registration procedure):

small organisations
community groups
voluntary groups

Self-employed or individuals cannot apply for a check on themselves.

What is a disclosure?
A disclosure is a document containing information held by the police and government departments. It can be used by employers and voluntary organisations to make safer recruitment decisions. There are two types of disclosure – standard and enhanced.

Standard disclosure
Standard disclosures are primarily for roles that involve working with children or vulnerable adults. Standard disclosures may also be issued for people entering certain professions, such as members of the legal and accountancy professions.

Enhanced disclosure
Enhanced disclosures are for posts involving a far greater degree of contact with children or vulnerable adults. In general, the type of work will involve regularly caring for, supervising, training or being in sole charge of children and vulnerable adults. Examples include a teacher, scout or guide leader. Enhanced Disclosures are also issued for certain statutory purposes such as gaming and lottery licences.

Enhanced disclosures contain the same information as standard disclosures but with the addition of local police force information considered relevant by chief police officer(s).

How to request this service
To find out more about this service contact the council's CRB unit:

Tel: (020) 8825 7562 or 5263, 8003 6436
Email: crbunit@ealing.gov.uk

How long will it take?
The check will take approximately six weeks. This includes the council's CRB unit's time to process the form before it is sent off to the CRB.

About the CRB (Criminal Record Bureau)
The CRB (Criminal Record Bureau) is an executive agency of the Home Office set-up to help organisations make safer recruitment decisions.

The CRB's aim is to help organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors by identifying candidates who may be unsuitable to work with children or other vulnerable members of society.