consultancy services on safe and inclusive recruitment.

DHA are the foremost experts in the UK on dealing with criminal records or serious allegation issues within the workplace and educational environments. 
 
We provide expert advice and operational
support to employers across all sectors on safe and fair recruitment, risk assessment, and dealing with safeguarding-related conduct concerns relating to applicants, existing staff, students, or volunteers.
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Our consultancy services are tailored to help organisations improve their recruitment and retention, risk management, and safeguarding policies and practices.
 
Our work also seeks to help clients minimise the costs of failed recruitment, unnecessary investigatory and disciplinary proceedings, avoidable employment tribunals, and other potential legal pitfalls.

DHA develops and delivers a range of training workshops for employers and education providers on safe and fair recruitment or safer admissions. 

Our interactive and engaging workshops:​ 
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• Increase understanding of the legal rights and responsibilities when considering applicants or existing staff, students, or volunteers with criminal records, or subject to serious allegations.

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• Give delegates the knowledge and tools to make informed recruitment, admissions, and retention decisions when dealing with people with convictions. ​

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• Increase understanding of how to gather and share effective references and conduct information to fulfil legal requirements and safeguarding responsibilities.

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• Increase understanding of how to manage and mitigate any potential risks involved confidently and effectively.

DHA delivers interactive, and engaging criminal record disclosure workshops for front-line advisers increasing their confidence when supporting people with convictions into employment or training.
 
Our training is informed by our unique experience as renowned advocates for people with convictions, unrivalled expertise on criminal records, and working directly with employers, education, and training providers.

Full-day workshop includes:
 

• Understanding the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 including the Relevant Order rule.

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• Learn about the ROA Exceptions Order self-disclosure rules  DBS filtering rules, DBS checks and  DBS eligibility

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• How to confidently and effectively support clients prepare for disclosure in a positive way – when or if it is required

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• How to advocate for clients so that they can access meaningful training and employment opportunities.

DHA develops, delivers and hosts legal briefings, stakeholder engagement and employer events, and webinars throughout the UK.
 
Recent events:
 

DBS Annual Conference - 2020, 2021

Recruiting from a Different Pool - Lord Mayor of London and The Corbett Network, 2021

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Business Summit - 2019, 2022, 2023

Safer employment: from compliance to curiosity - Wigan Safeguarding Adults Board, 2024

Removing barriers to grow your workforce -    
Skills for Care and Hartlepool College, 2024

Events are delivered or hosted in-person or online depending on the client's or project's requirements.
 

We develop bespoke practical guidance for employers across a range of sectors on safe and inclusive recruitment.
 
Recent guidance, resources and publications:
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Safe and fair recruitment: a guide to carrying out pre-employment checks in social care (updated Jan 2024)
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Sharing effective references and conduct information
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Recruiting safely and fairly: a practical guide to employing people with convictions (updated Jan 2024)
 
Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974: Nacro guidance (updated Oct 2023)
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DBS filtering rules:  Nacro guidance for employers (updated Oct 2023)
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Mind the Gap: a practical guide to employing people with convictions in the construction industry (updated Jan 2024)
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Hiring with Conviction: An employers' guide to recruiting and supporting people with convictions
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We work in partnership on projects that challenge the status quo
 
Recent collaborations:

Sharing effective references and conduct information:
A collaboration between safeguarding experts including
Disclosure and Barring Service, Skills for Care and Reed Screening to support social care employers obtain and provide effective references and conduct information.

Mind the Gap: 3-year project commissioned by CITB to create an employment pathway for people with convictions in the built environment sector.

West Midlands Second Chance Charter: Joint initiative between West Midlands Police Crime Commissioner and West Midlands Combined Authority to encourage and support employers throughout the region to provide training and jobs to people with convictions. (launched 18th January 2023)