How Long Will It Take to Get my DBS Certificate?
If you’ve applied for a job, and were short-listed to interview, and that went well, and you were offered the job subject to good references and a clear DBS Check – firstly, congratulations! Secondly, you may be wondering how long it will take before you receive your DBS Certificate and can start work in your new job? You are undoubtedly raring to go, and your employer too will be keen to get you inducted, onboarded, and fulfilling the job role they have hired you for. Sometimes, depending on where you live, DBS Check turnaround times can take longer than other places. This article will give some indication of turnaround times based on location.
How Do I Complete a DBS Check Application?
If it is simply a Basic DBS Check that you require, you can request this online yourself. However, if your future employer needs a Standard or Enhanced DBS Check then they need to request this on your behalf. It’s easy to apply for DBS Checks online, and is probably the most accurate, and safe way of doing so.
Typically, How Long Do DBS Checks Take?
For most people you can expect to receive your Basic, Standard or Enhanced Check within 4 weeks, which is a common ‘notice period’ that most candidates need to give from their previous job. However, many DBS Checks come back faster than that, within a fortnight.
Fast Areas of the UK
Areas of the UK that tend to deal with DBS Checks quickly include Lincolnshire, Northern Ireland, Guernsey, Leicestershire, and the Ministry of Defence Police. In some instances, these are dealt with in a day. Other areas with a reputation for speed include Norfolk, Hertfordshire, Gloucestershire, and the Isle of Man; these can often be turned around in 2-3 days. But this cannot be guaranteed, and you should expect your DBS Check within 4 weeks.
Slower Areas of the UK
Areas of the UK that tend to be slower to deal with DBS Checks have includes the Service Police, Surrey, Avon and Somerset, Greater Manchester, and North Yorkshire. These have typically taken between 18 – 26 days. These do all still fall within the four-week period though.
There are many reasons why DBS Checks can be slower in some places compared to others. It could be that there’s a really high demand for the DBS Checks. There could be a lack of staff to process them. There could be missing information on the DBS Checks which causes delays in their processing etc.
All you can do when you’re completing your DBS Check Application form, is ensure that you have provided all the information requested, without missing out any details, so that you aren’t responsible for causing any delay with it. You can ensure that the information provided is correct and accurate. It is worth triple-checking your form for errors before sending it off. Then, providing you have done all you can; it is simply a case of waiting patiently for whichever police force is processing the information requested, depending on what level of DBS Check you require.
