Top 5 FAQs On DBS Checks
We provide an online platform to apply for DBS Checks in a quick and convenient way. You can get your DBS Check results within 24 hours, on average, and the DBS certificate will arrive in the post within two weeks.
We often get asked similar questions when people phone our helpdesk or contact us via our online form. For that reason, we decided to put together a list of five frequently asked questions (FAQs) to make life easier for our customers to get instant assistance.
1. Am I required by law to get a DBS Check?
Whether a certain role has a legal requirement to get a DBS Check is one of the most common questions we get asked. This is especially true when the role involves working with children or vulnerable adults, although there are other roles that have a legal requirement too.
Let’s start with the DBS barred lists, before looking at DBS Check. The law surrounding the barred lists is simple – it is illegal for an employer to hire somebody, in a paid or voluntary role, if their details are on either one or both of the DBS barred lists.
Regarding DBS Checks, if the role is considered to be a regulated activity, then an Enhanced DBS Check with barred list check is legally required. A regulated activity is one that involves direct contact (in the form of care or supervision) of children or vulnerable adults on a frequent basis. A frequent basis means on three or more occasions within a thirty day period.
2. How frequently should you renew a DBS Check?
DBS Checks cannot officially expire as they are technically only up to date on the date of issue. How often a DBS Check should be renewed is up to the employer, individual, or organisation. Some professional and regulatory bodies insist that DBS Checks are renewed to a specific schedule, such as Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
The general advice is to get DBS Checks renewed at least once every two to three years to be on the safe side and they should be renewed whenever somebody changes roles or moves to a new company.
3. How do you renew a DBS Check?
To renew a DBS Check you need to apply for a new one, unless you sign up to the DBS update service. The DBS update service costs £13 per year and allows you to transfer your DBS certificate as long as you are moving to a similar role or within the same company.
4. Can you pass or fail a DBS Check?
No, a DBS Check is not a pass or fail test. It is a criminal background check that provides a snapshot of any convictions or offenses that are on the Police National Computer (PNC). It is then up to the employer whether they decide to hire the person based on that information.
5. Can self-employed workers get a DBS Check?
Yes, self-employed people can request Basic DBS Checks for themself or go through an agency or DBS registered body to get a Standard or Enhanced DBS Check.
We hope that those FAQs help to answer your queries, but if you need to know anything else, then get in touch with one of our advisors today.
