Most bureaucratic procedures nowadays take place online. This includes, many of you will be pleased to hear, a DBS check can be done online.
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All three DBS checks can be performed online, and in most cases, this is the preferable way to do them. Below, we take a look at the different ways you can have a DBS check carried out, their benefits, and some other details surrounding the application process.
Registered bodies
In many cases, organisations that are carrying out DBS checks as part of their employment process will need to do so through a Registered Body such as Personnel Checks.
While you can go straight through the DBS in certain circumstances, this will only be when you’re carrying out more than 100 checks each year. Registered bodies will process the application for you, in most cases online, ensuring that you supply all the relevant information for the check in question.
If you need to have the check updated on a regular basis, there’s a service that can arrange for it to be done automatically without having to submit a separate application each time.
What information needs to be provided?
When applying for a DBS check, the applicant will need to provide certain bits of information, in order to confirm their identity. This will typically include your addresses over the previous five years, your national insurance number, a credit or debit card, and a piece of ID such as a passport or driver's licence.
All this information will be stored securely according to the relevant data protection laws.
Why do your DBS check online?
In most cases, carrying out your DBS check online will save you a significant amount of time compared to doing it by post. With basic checks, you should get your result within 14 days if you apply online, although things can take a little longer depending on how many applications the service needs to process.
If the police need to be involved in the check, such as for certain enhanced checks, the check may take a little longer.
How will I receive my certification?
When you have a DBS check carried out, you’ll receive a certification which will show your criminal record and anything that was pulled up in the check. This can be sent to a physical address, but you can also access this in most cases online.
For many people, especially those who work in a range of different settings and who need to pass multiple security checks, this can be very handy. While it’s natural to feel a little apprehensive about DBS checks, they’re really quite easy to apply for nowadays. It can all be done online, and it doesn’t take too long at all to get your results back.
If you want to make sure that you get the process right, or if you’re an organisation that carries out fewer than 100 checks a year, it will likely be necessary to apply for the checks through a registered body – it’s often important for regulatory and practical reasons that these things are done properly.
