Disclosure Risk Assessment

To conduct a risk assessment when a disclosure or record is returned with content (previously known as a blemished disclosure) the following questions may be helpful to consider or discuss with the applicant:

• What is the nature of the role? 
• Does the role involve one-to-one contact with children or adults at risk and are there long periods where the person is unsupervised? (e.g. drivers are likely to have one-to-one contact). 
• How much supervision will be given for the post? 
• Does the post involve providing any personal or intimate care? 
• Does the post involve any direct responsibility for finances? 
• What information is contained on the disclosure? 
• Has the individual committed a criminal offence? 
• How serious was the offence? (An indication can be seen with the name of the offence and disposal at court). 
• How long is it since the offence was committed? 
• Was the offence committed whilst the individual was a juvenile? 
• Has the offence been decriminalised by parliament, or been re-classified? 
• Where was the offence committed? (Some activities are offences in some parts of the UK, whilst not in others). 
• How relevant is the offence to others’ safety, (this can include certain driving offences, drug related offences as well as those of a sexual or violent nature)? 
• Is there a pattern of offending, or an escalation of offending? 
• Did the individual commit one offence, or a series of offences? 
• What is known of the circumstances of the offence? 
• Have the person’s circumstances changed significantly to reduce the likelihood of re-offending? 
• Has the person expressed remorse, and demonstrated a commitment to change? 
• Does the individual blame others for their actions, minimise the offence(s) or are they dismissive of the consequences of their actions?