Everything you need to know about DBS Checks
Acceptable Documents
As an employer presented with a DBS Check from a candidate, you need to ensure that they have acceptable ID documents, check these, and validate them. You are doing this to establish the true identity of the applicant. It is preferable for ID documents to be checked face-to-face, but via a live video-link can also be acceptable. You can only accept valid, current, and original documents (not photocopies).
Ideally documents that include photographic identity should be used, such as a passport, or new style driving license – these need comparing with the likeness of the applicant.
Acceptable documents that prove an applicant’s address include things like bank statements, documents from official government organisations, such as the DWP, HMRC, or Home Office, and utility bills.
The specific documents from Group 1 and 2, can be seen on the government’s website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-identity-checking-guidelines/id-checking-guidelines-for-standardenhanced-dbs-check-applications-from-1-july-2021
Address Change
When you complete a DBS application, the certificate will be sent to the address that was your current address on the application form. If you have since moved house, it is your responsibility to sort out mail redirection to get the certificate sent from your old house to your new address. The address on your DBS application can’t be changed.
DBS do offer an Update Service, and with this you can log into your account to update your contact details. If you change your address on this to show your new address, your DBS certificate is still valid, but your DBS certificate is not updated, it will still show your previous address.
Information taken from: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-update-service-applicant-guide/dbs-update-service-applicant-guide
Address Proof
As an employer checking a candidates address history, you need to ensure that they have provided details of where they have lived for the past five years, without any gaps in this address history. You can check their CV job history, tallies with their address history too; you can question the candidate if this doesn’t appear to match.
To prove their current address, you must see at least one document that confirms this. This could be from their passport, driving licence, mortgage statement, bank or building society statement, credit card statement, a P45 or P60, a government document from the DWP or HMRC or receipt of benefits such Child Benefit or a pension, a firearms licence, or a utility bill.
From the website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-identity-checking-guidelines/id-checking-guidelines-for-standardenhanced-dbs-check-applications-from-1-july-2021
Adoption
It is a legal requirement that anyone who wants to adopt a child must have an Enhanced DBS Check with Barred Lists. This check applies to any other adult who will be living in the household too. This is to ensure that vulnerable children are safeguarded and protected from risk. The Enhanced DBS Check covers any unspent or spent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and warnings, plus any relevant information held by the local police force.
Some offences in the past would not necessarily prevent you from adopting, for example if you had a motoring offence many years ago that has since been spent, and you have lived as an upstanding citizen ever since. But, if you (or any other adult living in the house) had any past offences that were violent, abusive, sexual, or crimes against children, you would obviously not be suited to adopt a child.
Advanced
The most advanced level of DBS Check is an Enhanced DBS Check with Barred Lists. This type of check is the most thorough, and will show spent and unspent offences, cautions, reprimands, and warnings. It will also contact local police forces that correspond to the applicant’s address history and ask if they hold any information that is applicable to the job role. Finally, it will check the candidate against the relevant Children’s or Vulnerable Adults Barred Lists, to see if they have been placed on a Barred List due to past violent, abusive, or sexual offences.
An Enhanced DBS Check needs to be requested on behalf of an applicant, by an employer or agency. The application is easiest completed online. Enhanced DBS Checks with Barred Lists, currently cost £40. The Checks can take up to four weeks, but typically most checks are back within 14 days.
Advantages and Disadvantages
As a business there are mostly advantages of getting prospective employees to undertake DBS Checks before employing them. It eliminates a lot of risk, by having a check come back clear; you know that you’re not employing a known criminal, who could present risk towards your customers, other staff, or your business itself. You don’t want to be sued by customers, staff, or clients, simply because you didn’t take due diligence by getting criminal background checks done. For some job roles that involve regulated activity with children or vulnerable adults, an Enhanced DBS Check with Barred lists is essential legally anyhow.
The disadvantages to a business are mostly the cost incurred, the checks either cost £23 or £40 depending on what level check is needed for the job role. Very rarely, a mistake could be made on the application which could delay your new staff member being able to start their new job. From an applicant’s point of view, they may feel that their past criminal record shown on a DBS Check, puts them at a disadvantage from being selected for job roles.
After Job Offer
Because there is a cost involved for businesses, for DBS Checks (£23 or £40 per check, depending on the level of the check required), it is understandable, that many businesses wait until they have gone through the majority of the recruitment process, before their candidates complete a DBS Check. So, the candidate will complete an application form, be shortlisted for interview, do any tests/presentations required, and then at this point of the process, if the interview panel are fairly certain they’d like to offer the candidate a job, they will take up references, and request the candidate completes a DBS application form. Often, they will make a job offer ‘subject to references and DBS Check’ – this allows them a ‘get out’ clause, should the references or DBS Check contain unfavourable information. The DBS Check will report upon the candidate’s past criminal history, so the business can reflect upon this, and make their final decision as to whether they are trustworthy and risk-free, before officially employing them and drawing up an employment contract. Depending on what job role the candidate will carry out, will determine the level of DBS Check that is required: Basic, Standard, or Enhanced, and whether the Barred Lists also need to be checked. The candidate can complete their DBS application online.
From the website:
https://www.gov.uk/dbs-check-applicant-criminal-record
After Name Change
If you’ve changed your name, you may wonder how this will impact your DBS Certificate. People change their names for many reasons, including marriage, divorce, religion, to honour relatives, or because a name was complicated to spell or pronounce etc.
If you already have a DBS certificate, you don’t need to legally notify DBS; and they can’t automatically update your name. If you need a new DBS in your new name, you must request a new certificate.
If you’ve recently received a DBS Certificate and want to sign up to the DBS Update Service (it costs £13 annually), then you need to do this, within 14 days of receiving your certificate. Once signed up, you can login to your account and update your name on that (but it still won’t change on your certificate, that will show your previous name).
If you apply for a new DBS Certificate after a name change, you need to ensure all your previous names are listed on the application, so that your past criminal history can be easily checked.
Age
The minimum age that someone can be asked to apply for a DBS Check is 16 years old. That is regardless of whether someone is employed, or volunteering, you still can’t request that anyone completes a DBS Check until they are 16 years old.
Young people could be doing apprenticeships in care or volunteering with the elderly.
There could be confusion surrounding this, because prior to 2012, children as young as 13 years old, could apply for what was the old Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Check. But, since 2012 the law has changed. If you have anyone under the age of 16 years old working or volunteering, they should not be working with children or vulnerable adults, unsupervised.
If a 16-year-old is completing a DBS application, whilst they may have a passport and birth certificate, they may not have other ID such as a driving license or utility bills. They can have a letter from their Head Teacher or Principal which acts in support of their ID.
From the website:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/dbs-check-requests-guidance-for-employers#:~:text=The%20minimum%20age%20at%20which,check%20is%2016%20years%20old
Agency
If you run a small business or organisation, you may not have enough DBS Checks that you need carrying out, to warrant registering with the DBS yourself to allow you to send them in bulk. If this applies, then you need to find an agency (sometimes termed an umbrella body company) who can do the checks on your behalf. Applicants may need to visit this umbrella body company to prove their identity.
Also, recruitment agencies will often request DBS checks on behalf of an employer for any role and they’ll be able to request the appropriate level check (Basic, Standard or Enhanced) depending on the job role, and whether the job involves regulated activity with children or vulnerable adults. Admin jobs may need a Basic Check; roles in prison or security, or financial services or government buildings may need a Standard DBS Check; and roles that are in education or healthcare most likely need an Enhanced DBS Check. Anyone can apply for a Basic DBS Check; but only and employer or agency can apply for Standard and Enhanced DBS Checks.
Some agencies that specialise in certain work sectors, will offer DBS Checks, for example nanny agencies.
From the website:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/dbs-check-requests-guidance-for-employers
Airport
Airports are places where top level security is essential, every aspect of the airport needs to be safe. There are security checks on passengers and their luggage prior to them boarding planes; and staff need to be DBS Checked.
Depending on where in an airport a person will be working, may have an impact on the level of DBS Check required. Staff with limited contact with the public, may just need a Basic DBS; if others have high level security responsibilities, they may need a more thorough DBS Check. There are a wide variety of jobs in an airport from catering to security to pilot, but most airport jobs will require a minimum of a Basic DBS. Airport managers need to know that their staff won’t allow drugs, or terrorists, smuggled goods, or violence.
In order to work airside in an airport, the restricted part of the airport, a minimum of a Basic DBS is required; this would allow you to work unescorted. A Basic DBS Check shows If you have any unspent criminal convictions or cautions. Generally, at most airports, each time your airport ID card is renewed, you’ll need a fresh DBS Check each time.
Annual Fee
If you decide to opt into the DBS Update Service, there are many advantages to this, and all for an annual fee of £13. This Update Service lets you keep standard or enhanced DBS certificates up-to-date, and allows employers who you’ve given your consent to, to check this certificate online. If you apply for a different job within the same company, which needs the same level DBS Check, you’re able to use your certificate again, which saves time and money.
When you pay the annual fee of £13, it starts from the date your DBS Certificate was issued. You can’t use the Update Service for Basic Checks.
By paying this annual fee you’ll be able to look at the status of your DBS certificate, amend your contact details, add, and remove applications, and see which organisations have checked your DBS Certificate.
By having the Update Service, it means that instead of an employer requesting a new DBS application every time, they can look at the previous check, and be notified if there is any new information. New information could include new convictions, cautions, reprimands, or warnings; or amendments to a current conviction, caution, reprimand, or warning; plus, if any new relevant police information has been identified.
The Update Service is free if you are officially classed as a volunteer.
Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-update-service-applicant-guide/dbs-update-service-applicant-guide
Apostille
DBS Apostille or DBS Disclosure Apostille (DBS Check) is something which confirms the authenticity of the signature, seal, or stamp of the UK document. It is used as a legal document and can be used by embassies, consulates, overseas or for employment.
If a DBS Disclosure does not have a signature, for it to be legal with an apostille, the document would need to be certified by a solicitor or notary from the UK. You can certify yourself or book for this to be done with the apostille. The apostille on the DBS Disclosure can only be done on the original document.
If you need your DBS apostilled you need it stamped by an authorised signatory from the DBS, then the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office is the only Competent Authority in the UK for issuing Apostilles. They sign and place their seal on the Apostille and attach it to the document to confirm its authenticity, it is a further layer of verification.
Source: https://apostilleseal.co.uk/dbs-disclosure-apostille-crb-check/#:~:text=DBS%20Apostille%2C%20also%20known%20as,2%20hours%20in%20an%20emergency!
Source: https://www.notarypublicinlondon.com/services/apostille/
Application Status
When you complete a DBS Application online, you can use the online service to check the status and progress of your basic, standard, or enhanced DBS check and to view your certificate once it is completed.
You can use the DBS online account tracking service to see the status of your application. You will need the application reference number, the applicant’s surname, and date of birth to check this. It will also check you’re not a computer, by asking you to ‘type the characters you see in the picture.’ It is the applicant whose form it is who can check the status, or also employers who are registered with the DBS who are able to track multiple applications.
For employers who want to check a DBS Certificate Status online, it is essential that you are legally entitled to carry out a check and have the permission of the applicant to look at this.
The Track Application Status page can be accessed from this link: https://disclosure.homeoffice.gov.uk/HomeOfficeExternalPortal/faces/oracle/webcenter/portalapp/pages/StandAloneService.jspx?_afrLoop=1893852824206252&_afrWindowMode=0&_afrWindowId=null&_adf.ctrl-state=1d8r4udb36_1#!%40%40%3F_afrWindowId%3Dnull%26_afrLoop%3D1893852824206252%26_afrWindowMode%3D0%26_adf.ctrl-state%3D1d8r4udb36_5
A Status Check from the Update Service means that employers don’t have to ask their staff for multiple certificates if they move to another job in the same workforce, or if a recheck of their DBS Status is required. The link to perform a Status Check can be found here: https://secure.crbonline.gov.uk/crsc/check?execution=e1s1
Source: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/track-a-dbs-application
Source: https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service
Army
If you want to join the army and have a criminal conviction, this doesn’t automatically exclude you from applying, or being successful in joining. But the key thing is to be completely upfront and honest about your past and it may be that they could offer you a chance. Some convictions are ‘spent’ after a length of time, depending on what the offence was. It’s important to let the army know about spent and unspent convictions. If during the application process, you are awaiting a court appearance for a criminal offence, you must let them know about that too.
Under the Army recruitment guidelines, it looks likely that people will be requested to have either a Standard DBS Check, or Enhanced, or Enhanced with Barred Lists dependent upon what job roles people take in the Army.
If you want to be an adult volunteer in the Army Cadet Force you will need a DBS Check for that too, which will report on any convictions, cautions, warnings, or reprimands you may have received. Similarly, if you have a minor criminal past, but otherwise appear suitable your case would be discussed with the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association (RFCA) before a decision is made.
Source:: https://apply.army.mod.uk/how-to-join/can-i-join/criminal-convictions
Source: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/505677/20160219-FOI01401_76472_Recruitment_Policy_Convictions_OS-Policy.pdf
Source: https://armycadets.com/features/dbs-checks-for-adult-volunteers-of-army-cadets/
Arrested but Not Charged
Depending on what level of DBS Check you apply for, will depend on whether information about an incident when you were arrested, but not charged, will show on the DBS report.
If you have simply a Basic DBS Check this would just show unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and final warnings. The next level of check, a Standard DBS Check shows spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and final warnings. Neither of these should show an incident of arrest, without charge.
An Enhanced DBS Check will show convictions, cautions, warnings, and reprimands. An Enhanced check can also include any other information held by the local police that could be relevant to the job role; so, this could include information about when you were arrested but not charged or prosecuted. The important thing to note here though is that it’s only, if the arrest is relevant to the job you’re applying for, that the police will mention it, and include it on your DBS check.
So, if you had been mistakenly arrested as a teenager, but then released, it probably wouldn’t be mentioned. If you had been repeatedly arrested for fraud, and investigations were still ongoing, this probably would be raised on your Enhanced DBS Check.
Average Time
DBS Checks can take a varying amount of time to arrive; this is due to many different factors. The length of time it takes to process a DBS Check could be extended, if all the information hasn’t been provided by the applicant. The check could be declined or returned to the applicant for more information. This is where triple checking the application before sending it off is important, to check for correct name spellings, and that all the past address history is accurate with no gaps.
The DBS Check could take longer or shorter than the average, depending on where in the UK you live. Some police forces may be inundated with DBS Checks and therefore the processing time may take longer; having staff shortages would also slow down the process.
If you have a complex address history and have moved house a lot over the past five years, could mean that your DBS Check takes longer than someone who has lived at the same address for the past 5 years; because each individual police force needs to be contacted to see if they hold any information about your criminal record.
Most DBS Checks tend to be received within four weeks, but many are faster than this and are received within two weeks; some are even quicker.
Bank Statement
DBS Checks require ID documents to validate the applicant’s identity. If you are an employer checking an applicant’s ID, you may accept one bank statement as a form of ID. You cannot accept two bank statements as two forms of required documents if they are from the same bank. A bank or building society statement, or account opening confirmation letter, that has been issued in the last three months, in the country where the applicant lives, and works can be used as a Group 2b financial and social history document. It is not possible to accept documentation printed from the Internet. It is important that the applicants name is spelled correctly on all documents for them to be used. It needs to be an original bank statement and not a photocopy. You are not allowed to accept a bank statement from a foreign bank, it needs to be a UK one.
Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-identity-checking-guidelines
Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-identity-checking-guidelines/id-checking-guidelines-for-standardenhanced-dbs-check-applications-from-1-july-2021
Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-identity-checking-guidelines/id-checking-guidelines-for-countersignatory-applications
Bank Statement Online
As part of the DBS ID checking process, various ID documents are checked from the applicant, to ensure that their name, appearance, and address match up to what they have on their form as a current address; and that their previous addresses appear to tally with their CV job history. These are all security checks to ensure that the applicant’s ID can be validated, to ensure that their past criminal history definitely relates to them.
If you are an employer checking their ID, and ensuring they have documents from the relevant lists of approved ID documents, you must never accept an Online Bank Statement as a form of ID; this is not acceptable.
A bank statement can only be accepted as a document from the Group 2 list, if it is the original paper bank statement issued by the bank, with proper bank headers. It cannot be a photocopy. It cannot be an equivalent bank statement from a foreign bank. The bank statement must have the correct name, and applicant’s address, and the statement must have been issued in the past three months.
Online bank statements are not to be used as an ID document.
Information from: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-identity-checking-guidelines/id-checking-guidelines-for-countersignatory-applications
Barred List
The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) enables employers to make safer recruitment choices and employ people who they feel are risk free to work with their customers, staff, and their business.
The highest level of check that can be carried out, is an Enhanced DBS Check with Barred Lists. This is a check for people who are working doing regulated activity with children or vulnerable adults. This could include jobs in education, health, or care.
The Barred lists are for either working with children, or vulnerable adults, or if a job role will cover both, both lists will be checked. Employers may only request a DBS Check on an individual when they are legally permitted to do so, they must be entitled by law to ask an applicant to reveal their full criminal history, because this is known as asking ‘an exempted question.’ Exempted Questions are only allowed when people will be working in specific occupations, for certain licenses and specified positions.
Checking the barred lists, ensures that person’s name, does not appear on a barred list, due to their past criminal record, of violence, abuse, or sexual crimes, which would make them unsuited to working with children or vulnerable adults.
People can be placed on a Barred List due to an Automatic barring offence (also called ‘Autobar’) this is for a new conviction for a caution or serious offence that requires immediate barring; or via a Disclosure – from relevant information that has placed the applicant on one or both Barred Lists; or a Referral where an employer or organisation has concerns that a person could potentially harm vulnerable groups and submits a barring referral.
Based on the information from: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/disclosure-and-barring-service/about
Basic DBS Check
The Basic DBS Check will show your criminal history, specifically only ‘unspent’ convictions, cautions, reprimands, and warnings. If you have any previous convictions that are now spent, meaning that the rehabilitation period since the offence has now passed, these will not show up on a Basic DBS. For example, some types of ‘caution’ can be expunged from your criminal record after three months.
You need to be 16 years of age to put in a DBS application, and you will need to have your address history for the past five years (without any gaps), your National Insurance number, ideally a passport and driving licence (there are other ID documents you can use, such as bank statements, utility bills, birth certificate etc.) You can apply for a Basic DBS Check online. Do check that the Basic DBS is a rigorous enough check for the job that you’ll be doing. If you need a Standard DBS or an Enhanced DBS, then an employer or agency need to apply for this on your behalf. Typically, a Basic DBS Check is processed within 14 days.
Source: https://www.gov.uk/request-copy-criminal-record
Source: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/basic-dbs-checks-guidance
Before Interview
Many companies, typically go through the interview process, and then once they’ve decided on their ideal employee they’d like to hire, request a DBS Check at that point, prior to making a firm offer of employment. This is because it costs money for DBS Checks to be conducted.
Unspent convictions must always be declared to employers, but depending on the role, spent convictions may not need to be declared, unless the role exempts this (roles that include working with children or vulnerable adults). This is intended to allow rehabilitated ex-offenders back into the workplace. So, a Basic DBS Check would not report on spent convictions.
Unless a company is eligible to check a person’s spent criminal record for a job, it is against the law to refuse to employ a person because of spent convictions. Certain convictions and cautions are ‘protected’, and these do not need to be disclosed, and if they are disclosed, employers can’t take them into account.
But, depending on a role employers may legally need to check if a person has a criminal record, for example some education, health, and care roles, where people would work with children or vulnerable adults.
Employers are recommended to phrase their application forms carefully so that they ask the right questions, and prospective employees give the legal answer:
Do you have any unspent conditional cautions or convictions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974? (Y/N)?
Do you have any adult cautions (simple or conditional) or spent convictions that are not protected as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020? (Y/N)?”
Typically, employers tend to ask for written self-disclosure via the above questions on an application form, rather than request a DBS prior to interview.
Based on: https://www.gov.uk/employers-checks-job-applicants
and https://www.gov.uk/guidance/dbs-check-requests-guidance-for-employers and https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-filtering-guidance/dbs-filtering-guide
Birth Certificate
DBS Checks need accompanying ID documents, to verify that the applicant is who they say they are. In one of the Group 1 primary identity documents, a birth certificate that was issued within 12 months of birth can be used. This can only be if the birth certificate is from the UK, Isle of Man, Channel Islands, or was issued by UK authorities overseas, such as embassies, High Commission and HM Forces. The document does need to be the original, and not a photocopy. As well as a birth certificate, things like passports, biometric residence permits, photocard driving licence or an adoption certificate can be used in Group 1. Other documents are available to prove ID in Group 2, such as government documents, bank statements and utility bills. Birth certificates should have a watermark visible when held up to the light. The birth certificate should be appropriate for the year of registration. Only the surname on a birth certificate should be in upper case, not the forename(s).
Information from: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-identity-checking-guidelines/id-checking-guidelines-for-standardenhanced-dbs-check-applications-from-1-july-2021
Business
Getting the right staff for your business is crucial. They represent your company and your reputation and future business success rely upon their conduct. Requesting that prospective employees complete a DBS application prior to starting work, is a sensible move to protect your customers, staff, and business, and ensure things are as risk-free as possible. You don’t want to employ staff who are violent, abusive, sexual predators, or with a recent history of fraud or theft for example. If your business involves your employees working in regulated activity with children or vulnerable adults, then by law your staff would need an Enhanced DBS with Barred Lists to safeguard vulnerable individuals. There are three DBS Checks: Basic (for unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and warnings), Standard and Enhanced (for both spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and warnings). An Enhanced DBS Check will also check with the local police force if they hold any information relevant to the job role. DBS Checks can be applied for online.
Certificate
There are different types of DBS Checks that can be applied for: Basic, Standard, Enhanced or Enhanced with Barred Lists. As an individual, you can only apply for a Basic DBS. An employer or agency needs to request a Standard or Enhanced DBS.
If you have completed your DBS application online, you can track or view your Basic, Standard or Enhanced DBS Check online. The person whose check it is, can log into their DBS online account, and then choose ‘Manage DBS Checks’, they’ll be given a passcode and enter security information, then they can see their DBS applications and view the relevant certificate.
If you are an employer and wish to view an applicant’s DBS certificate you either need a standalone consent code from the applicant (this can only be viewed once and will expire on a date specified by the applicant), or a DBS online account to which the application has granted you auto consent, with this the certificate can be viewed multiple times up to the date specified by the applicant.
Information from: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/track-a-dbs-application And https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/781520/View_an_applicant_s_DBS_basic_certificate_v0_3.pdf
Certificate Reprint
You are not able to get a reprint if:
- You have lost or destroyed the certificate after you received it.
- If the certificate was issued more than 93 days ago. You would need to do a new DBS check and pay a new fee.
- If a reprint has been sent, but you’ve not received it yet.
- If it is a basic check and you did not request a paper copy at the time you applied.
You can get a reprint if:
- Your DBS certificate was issued 14 days ago, and you haven’t received it.
- If your reprint request is within 93 days of the date the certificate was issued.
- If your address matches the address you supplied on your DBS application.
If you have moved since the application was submitted, it’s your responsibility to set up mail redirection.
Typically, a reprint is processed within 5 working days.
Information based on: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-certificate-reprint-guide/dbs-certificate-reprint-guide
Certificated Documents
There are official documents that are required to prove one’s ID when you submit a DBS application. Depending on what ID documents you have from the groups, will determine how many documents from each group you need to supply.
The documents must be valid, current, and original, no photocopies. Nothing can be from the Internet (i.e., bank statements).
You need to provide 1 document from Group 1; then a further 2 documents from Group 1; Group 2a or 2b. One of the documents must have your current address.
Group 1 documents include: Passport; Biometric residence permit; photocard driving licence; birth certificate or adoption certificate.
Group 2a documents include: Trusted government documents mentioned in group1, or a marriage/civil partnership certificate; visa or work permit; HM Forces ID card; or Firearms licence.
Group 2b documents include: Financial and social history documents such as a bank or building society statement; mortgage statement; a bank account opening letter; utility bill; P45 or P60; credit card statement; sponsorship letter; Council tax statement; benefit statement; or a letter from the head teacher or college principal for 16–19-year-olds if they don’t yet have other forms of ID.
Information from: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-identity-checking-guidelines/id-checking-guidelines-for-standardenhanced-dbs-check-applications-from-1-july-2021
Childminder
If you want to be a childminder and look after children for a living, you will need an Enhanced DBS Check with Barred List; this is to ensure children are safe. Once you have you certificate you can show this to parents or employers. You will also need this DBS certificate to register with Ofsted.
If you are a childminder looking after children in your home, then any adults who live in the home or work there throughout childcare hours will also require a DBS check. This can include partners, cleaners, housemates, lodgers, and your children over the age of 16 years old.
You can apply online for the DBS Check. You need to get a professional person such as a teacher, nurse, or accountant to sign section B of the form that checks your identity. They need to be a UK resident, and not a relative or someone you live with. If you don’t have anyone to ask, the Post Office do a document certification service, for a charge of £10.50. You will need to show current, valid, and original ID documents, such as a passport, driving licence, utility bills from the past 3 months, and a bank statement (not an Internet one).
Information based on: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/criminal-record-checks-for-childminders-and-childcare-workers
Contact Number
If you want to contact DBS themselves, there is a DBS helpline which is: 03000 200 190. They also have an email address of: customerservices@dbs.gov.uk
You may have any number of queries about your DBS form, such as a misspelled name/address, or incorrect information reported about your past criminal history. Mistakes are rare but may happen occasionally. You may wish to contact the DBS if you need a reprint, because you haven’t received your certificate after 14 days of it being issued.
Usually when you contact the DBS, they will require your application from reference number. If you don’t have this yourself, for example if an employer applied for a Standard or Enhanced DBS on your behalf, then you need to contact the person who asked you to complete the DBS application to get this. The 12-digit DBS Certificate number can be found on the top right-hand side of the DBS certificate.
Information from: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/disclosure-and-barring-service and https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-update-service-applicant-guide/dbs-update-service-applicant-guide
