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DBS Check – Essential In Recruitment Decisions For Employers

DBS Checks play a critical role in making recruitment decisions, as well as safeguarding, to ensure only the right people are hired.

A DBS Check is a background check that shows an employer any information held on the PNC by the police on an individual. If the potential employee has a criminal history that could impact an employment decision, the employer will know about it!

Companies and organisations that carry out DBS checks on their employees can give their customers and/or clients the assurance that they have taken the necessary precautions to help provide a fantastic service.

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At Aaron’s Department, we process a lot of DBS Check applications, and have been doing for a long time!

Our tailored DBS Check system is directly connected to the UK Government‘s Gateway, which means that every application you or your applicants do is simple, safe, affordable, and dealt with in a fast manner.

Our DBS online system keeps you up-to-date with every stage of your, or your employees, DBS check through email updates and your online portal. Whether your DBS is getting started at Stage 1, Stage 4, or being posted out, you’ll know as soon as it happens.

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DBS Check Service Benefits

So, what benefits will you get to enjoy when using Aaron’s Department DBS online service?

Built-in Tracking System

Our system incorporates Our DBS system incorporates a built-in tracking service, and provides you with automatic email updates to help you keep track of the status of your application(s), showing which stage it is at.

No Contracts or Hidden Fees

There are no nasty shocks when you sign up with us! No registration fees or minimum checks are required – just use what you want, when you want.

Fast DBS Results

No matter the job role you need a DBS check for, you don’t have to wait around for it! We process and send all DBS checks the same day (when received before 4pm).

Complete The DBS Application Anywhere

No matter where the employer or applicant is, our DBS application system can be accessed wherever is most convenient.

Dedicated Customer Support

No matter your question, big or small, our experienced team will be happy to help! Simply give us a call, or drop an email, and we’ll help you however we can.

Affordable DBS Checks

Nobody should be overpaying for their DBS checks, especially when they play such a crucial role in safeguarding.
Our admin fees start at £5.45 for a Basic DBS.

What DBS Check Can An Employers Get For Their Staff?

At Aaron’s Department, we offer the following types of DBS Check (formerly CRB Check):

Basic DBS Check

As the name suggests, this is the most basic DBS check! The certificate will contain the details of any unspent convictions or conditional cautions the applicant has.

This level of DBS can be requested by anyone.

Standard DBS Check

This check contains information on cautions, warnings, and reprimands, as well as any spent and unspent convictions.

Unlike a Basic check, a Standard DBS can only be applied for by an employer, for an employee.

Enhanced DBS Check – With Or Without A Barred List Check

The Enhanced check includes all the previous checks from a Basic or Standard DBS check: cautions, warnings, and reprimands, as well as any spent and unspent convictions. As well as this, Local Police Forces can also add any information that they feel is relevant to the applicant and their application.

In cases where job roles require it, this can also include a search of the DBS’s Children and/or Adult Barred List, which says whether the individual is allowed to work with Children/ Vulnerable Adults.

Adults First Check

Exclusive to Enhanced checks requiring a the vulnerable adult barred list check, the Adult First check (previously known as an ISA Adult First or POVA) can be done (if requested) during stage 3 of the DBS checking process.

When requested, the result is usually returned in 48 hours. If it comes back clear, the person in question can start working under supervision. If not, they will have to wait until the certificate is issued.

DBS Check

Need More Information About The Different DBS Check?

You can find everything you need to know about Basic, Standard, and Enhanced checks in our neat little guide, or read our FAQ, What Is A DBS Check?

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The DBS Checking Process Explained

Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of the online DBS checking process?

We’ll tell you what happens during each stage below!

Step 1: The DBS Application is Received
When the DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) receive an application, they will check for any errors or omissions. If any are found, it is returned to our Countersignatories, however, as we put the upmost care into our work, this is very unlikely to happen. It may also be returned if the DBS has any questions or clarifications regarding the DBS form.
Step 2: The DBS Application is Received
The applicant’s data is compared against details held on the Police National Computer, identifying possible matches.
Step 3: Children’s and Adult’s Barred List Search (If Required)
If eligible for the applicants’ role, the Children’s and Adult’s Barred List check will be searched. This will tell you whether the individual is allowed to work with Children/Vulnerable Adults.
Step 4: (Only for Enhanced Checks) Local Police Record Check
At this stage, the form is sent securely to any relevant local police forces for a check against their local records.
Step 5: The DBS Certificate is Printed!
Once all the information has been found and checked, the DBS certificate is ready. All the information that is disclosed is printed under highly secure procedures and then posted to the applicants address. Only the applicant can reveal the information contained on the DBS certificate.However, our online system is able to tell you the result of the DBS application: whether it came back clean, or if you should wait to see the information on the certificate.

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DBS Update Service

The DBS Update Service lets applicants keep their Standard and Enhanced DBS checks up to date. It costs £16 per year and starts from the day of the DBS certificate issue date.

More information on the DBS Update Service can be found in our blog article.

Additional Information and Help

Aaron’s Department is a DBS Umbrella body providing DBS Online Disclosures (DBS) to organisations, businesses, and employers in the public, private and voluntary sectors. Obtaining a Basic, Standard or Enhanced Criminal Record check UK (DBS check) helps identify candidates who may be unsuitable for certain work, especially that which involves children or vulnerable adults.

To help you with any questions you may have regarding your Online DBS application, we have created guidance files in our Frequently asked questions section. If you want to learn more about Aaron’s Department, you can do so on our about page.

More specific step-by-step guides for each account type are available once you have created an account and logged in.

What DBS Check Do My Staff Need?

Whether you’re new to DBS checks, or have experience, knowing which level is needed for your staff can sometimes be tricky. That’s why we’ve done on all the hard work, and compiled a help page that goes over the most commons roles that get a DBS background check requested.

You can find information on these roles on our What DBS Check Do You Need page or why not have a read of our FAQ Pages, How Long Do DBS Checks Take? Who Pays For A DBS Check? Who Needs A DBS Check? What Does A DBS Check Show?

We can also answer the tricky questions such as, Is my DBS Transferable? What does, DBS Certificate Printed-In Progress, mean or even answer the question, Do Driving Offences show on a DBS Check?

What DBS Check Do My Staff Need

Below are some of the most common questions we get about a individual DBS check, as well from those looking to do DBS applications for the first time:

What Are DBS Checks?

DBS checks are criminal record background check requests from the Disclosure and Barring Service to the UK police service to disclose any information they hold on an applicant. This allows you to know an individual’s criminal record if they have one before you hire them for a job.

There are three levels of DBS disclosure: Basic DBS check, Standard DBS check and Enhanced DBS check, and more information can be viewed on our DBS Checks for Employers page.

Why Do I Need DBS Checks?

Whether it be a legal requirement, or for your peace of mind, DBS Checks help ensure that you’re hiring the right person for your organisation.

Basic disclosures are available for any applicant, whereas Standard and Enhanced are only available to organisations who are entitled by law to ask an exempted question.

Select the wrong type, and you could be applying for it illegally, or you could be illegally hiring someone without doing the appropriate checks! Whilst there is no official list of job roles requiring a DBS check, you can find further guidance on this website.

Do I Need To Apply For More Than One DBS Check?

You should only request the highest level check available for the job role. For example, if you were getting a DBS check for a Nurse, you would only have to apply for the Enhanced DBS Check online with Barred Lists. You wouldn’t have to also apply for a Basic or Standard check.

If you have a specific question or would like further guidance, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

What Type of DBS Check Do I Need?

Whilst Basic checks are available for any of your applicants, Standard and Enhanced DBS checks are only available to companies who are entitled, by law, to ask an exempt question, and it is required for the role.

While there is no official document listing what type of DBS is needed for a certain job, we go over most of the roles that qualify for each check across the pages on our website. If you are still unsure, you can contact us and we will be happy to help.

What is an Exempt Question?

An exempt question is defined as: ‘requesting an individual to reveal their full criminal history, including spent convictions and cautions.’

Unless the role is listed in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013) and where appropriate Police Act Regulations (as amended in 2019), it is unlawful to ask an exempted question.

What’s the Difference Between Spent and Unspent Criminal Convictions?

Spent Convictions: These are convictions and cautions that the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974 determines have reached the point where the person is to be considered (for most purposes) as if they have never committed the offence. In simple terms, they should be given a ‘clean slate’.

Unspent Convictions: Unspent convictions and cautions have not been determined to have reached the point that they should be considered to never have happened. Many convictions can never become ‘spent’, for example, imprisonment of more than 2 years and 6 months, and sexual and terrorism offences.

A full list of offences that will never be filtered from a DBS certificate can be found on the UK Government website.

Only Unspent Convictions will appear on the Basic DBS check, whereas both Spent and Unspent Convictions will appear on Standard and Enhanced level DBS checks.

How Long Does a Fast-Track DBS Check Take?

There is no one-size-fits answer for how long a fast-track DBS check will take because of a range of factors such as the number of addresses lived at or a larger amount of previous surnames.

The fasted DBS check we have had returned so far in 2023 is just 40 minutes.

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