Can I Start My Job If My DBS Check Hasn’t Arrived Yet?
The answer to whether you can start a job without a DBS Check, will depend entirely on what job it is that you will be doing and to some extent the policy of the business you will be working for. Some jobs may not require a DBS Check before your start; but for other jobs an Enhanced DBS Check, often with Barred Lists, is essential before you can start. This would apply for jobs working with children, vulnerable adults, in finance, or as a taxi driver.
What Jobs Are Unlikely to Allow Me to Start Work Before a DBS Check?
It is against the law for you to work with children, or vulnerable adults, without an Enhanced DBS Check with Barred Lists. So, if you’ve applied for a job, or even a volunteer position at a school or in a health care environment, you will definitely need a DBS Check before you can start work. If you are working in a care home with vulnerable adults an ‘Adult First Check’ could be conducted to check you against the Barred List, before you obtain your full DBS. This should only be used in exceptional circumstances though.
These jobs are high risk, where vulnerable children and adults need to be safeguarded to protect them from harm, therefore these checks are required.
How Long Will It Take for My DBS Check to Arrive?
Typically, you will receive your DBS Check within four weeks. It may arrive within two weeks. But if you have applied for an Enhanced DBS Check this is more in-depth and can take longer. There are many other variables that can impact how long the check takes, for example, if you’ve moved house a lot on the past five years, each of these addresses will need the local police force contacting for each address to see if they hold any relevant information about you; this can all take time. It could be that a certain part of the country is inundated with DBS checks, or they’re short-staffed there, which can cause checks to take longer. If you’ve made any errors on your form this could delay how long it takes to be processed.
If you find out why your DBS Check is taking longer than normal to be processed, if you explain this to your prospective employer, they will usually be very understanding about this.
Be Patient – But, if Working with Adults – Enquire about an Adult First Check
When you’ve been offered a new job, subject to the DBS Check and perhaps references, it can be really frustrating waiting to start your new job. Many people though will find that their new DBS Check arrives, whilst they’re working out their month’s notice from their previous job. But if the DBS Check hasn’t arrived, it may be a case of trying to find out why, and letting your new employer know. If you will be working in a care role, with vulnerable adults, you could mention to your employer that they could request an Adult First Check, so that you can get started right away, by having you checked against the Barred List, until your full DBS Check arrives.
