If your staff require regular DBS checks in order to work, it’s important to make sure you’re renewing them as frequently as you need. In this post, we’ll go over the two ways to renew your staff DBS checks.
How To Renew DBS Checks For Staff: Paying For New Checks
The most obvious way to renew your staff DBS checks is by paying for new ones. When you see their initial DBS certificate upon commencing employment, make a note of the date you’ll need a new one for*. When this comes around, simply request a new check for them.
If you use Aaron’s Department for your DBS checks, our system includes a built-in timer that can be set to send email reminders when a DBS renewal is due. Simply set the number of months in-between each check, and we’ll make sure it isn’t forgotten about.
* Bear in mind that each organisation/sector has different regulations and policies governing how frequently checks need to be renewed!
However, getting a new DBS check for your staff every couple of years can get expensive, even at our low prices! There is a more economical way to renew staff DBS checks, which we’ll cover next:
How To Renew DBS Checks For Staff: The DBS Update Service
In 2013, the DBS introduced the Update Service. It’s a £13 per year subscription that keeps staff DBS checks up-to-date, by checking Police National Computer to see if there have been any changes to the applicants’ criminal records. If there are any changes, a new check is required.
The table below shows how the Update Service can be more economical than regular DBS checks:
If your organisation checks its staff every other year, it would take 5 years for the Update Service to be more economical than getting a fresh DBS check.
If you’re not sold on price, there are a few other important benefits to using the Update Service:
It’s easier
Simply put, it’s easier to leave a subscription running than it is to file a new application every year or so.
It’s more secure
A DBS certificate only shows the applicant’s criminal history up to the date it was completed. In-between checks, you’ll have no way of knowing what sort of convictions or cautions your staff have received. With an Update Service subscription, you can check their record as often as you like.
How To Renew DBS Checks For Staff: Automatic Update Service Checker
One of the main downsides of the Update Service is that the DBS won’t tell you if they detect a change on one of your applicant’s criminal records. You’ve got to log into all your users’ accounts and manually check to see if there are any changes.
This is a real nuisance, especially if you’ve got a lot of staff with accounts that need checking. It’s time-consuming, boring work – easy to make mistakes!
That’s why we’ve created an automatic Update Service checker. For just £1 per month, per subscriber, we’ll log into their account every day and notify you if a new DBS check is required due to changes on their criminal records. That way, you can truly sit back and forget about DBS checks!
– and it’s still more economical than getting annual DBS checks!
If you’re interested, sign-up is free, and our system works even with DBS checks from other Umbrella Bodies. As long as the certificate was issued within the past 30 days, we can register it for you. Use the button below to create an account, or get in touch if you’ve any questions. We look forward to hearing from you!
Summary: How To Renew DBS Checks For Staff
You can renew staff DBS checks by either getting a new DBS check outright for them, or by subscribing their certificate to the DBS Update Service, which will keep it up-to-date for as long as their criminal record remains unchanged. Each method has pros and cons, so make sure to do your research and before deciding!
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Further Reading
if you’ve found our post, “How To Renew DBS Checks For Staff” helpful, you’ll find these useful too:
- Is it possible to re-use a DBS check from 3 years ago?
- How To Renew DBS Checks: How Often Should You Renew?
- How long do DBS certificates last?
- Can I Get A DBS Check On My Partner?
About The Author
Matthew Dugdale
Matthew is our go-to when it comes to all things related to Recruitment & DBS checks. His experience and expertise helps make sure that everyone gets the correct level of check.