Insight: The latest on Digital ID verification for Employee Screening.

Following the pandemic-driven, mass migration to remote and hybrid working models, there’s been a widespread move towards greater digitalisation. In particular, employers and the wider recruitment industry were quick to recognise the benefits associated with remote ID verification.

 

As a result, the Home Office has been reviewing the option to use digital ID verification on an ongoing basis.

 

Home Office Announcement  

The DBS, Home Office and DCMS recently made a joint announcement regarding the formal introduction of digital ID verification.  Relevant to recruitment and employment screening, this will positively impact both Right to Work and DBS checks. Key buzz words in this space are ‘Digital Identity and Attributes Trust Framework’ and ‘Identity Documentation Validation Technology [IDVT] service providers’. The Trust Framework sets out the rules and standards IDVT service providers must follow to ensure secure, trustworthy and consistent identity checks, and to obtain their certification. As of January 2022, the process of IDVT service providers getting certified has begun.

 

DBS Identity Trust Scheme

Relevant changes in legislation to support digital ID verification in the context of RTW [and Right to Rent] are due to take effect from the 6 April 2022 and will be aligned to the Disclosure and Barring Service [DBS] Identity Trust Scheme.

The DBS Identity Trust Scheme enables digital identity checking within their pre-employment criminal disclosure checking process.

 

Next Steps

A further announcement is expected later in the month, so we’ll continue to keep you updated on developments.

 
Read more around the government’s latest announcement on certified digital identity service providers being used for Right to Work, Right to Rent and DBS checks.