Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

By law, anyone who works or volunteers in a school will be required to have the highest level check possible, the Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

DBS checks (formerly known as CRB checks) are in place to stop unsuitable people working or volunteering with children or vulnerable people.

We offer all our students a simple process when applying for your Enhanced Disclosure Criminal record check (formerly called CRB Check).

You simply fill in the forms we send out to you, return them back to us and we’ll begin your application straight away.

Our student support team will thoroughly check the information provided and contact you if any further information or supporting documents are required.

You will be able to start working or volunteering in a school as soon as your DBS check is complete.

We can apply for your DBS check for you

DBS Check: How the process works

Applying for a DBS check can be a confusing and frustrating process. There are different types of disclosure checks for which you can apply so making sure you know what to expect is of paramount importance.

We specialise in checking and processing DBS applications for Teaching Assistants and provide support and advice specifically for the Enhanced Disclosure Application.

Our team will personally help you throughout your application journey when applying for your Enhanced Disclosure (DBS) check and once we have your information, we will personally be in touch to let you know what to do next.

If all the information that has been supplied is accurate and complete, a member of the Application Support Team will process your application for you.

If, however, the information you have submitted is incorrect or incomplete, we will be in contact to obtain the relevant information needed to complete a DBS check.

If at any point you find that you are having difficulty completing the application, or are confused about what you need to do, you can contact our support team where a helpful staff member will be able to assist you in completing the application form and support you throughout the process.

Once everything has been completed, we will send out the official DBS certificate to either you or your employer, depending on your circumstances and application type.

What will The Disclosure and Barring Service want to check?

They will check for spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings plus any additional information held by local police that’s reasonably considered relevant to the role of a Teaching Assistant.

Who pays for the DBS certificate?

It is down to you and your employer to decide, the employer may pay the cost on receipt of a clear disclosure or one that allows you to take up employment with the school.

How long will it take to get my DBS certificate?

The processing time is out of our control as the certificate is produced and supplied by a 3rd party – The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The average processing time for an Enhanced DBS check is 8 weeks (however this can vary and if further enquiries are needed then the time will increase).

How long is the DBS certificate valid for?

There is no expiry date on the certificate. Usually, it is at the discretion of the employer to stipulate how regularly an employee or contractor needs to renew their certificate. In most cases, individuals are asked to apply for a new certificate every 12 months.

What proof do I need to confirm my identity?

Standard/Enhanced DBS – The documentation required for both Standard and Enhanced DBS applications is set out by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and is as follows:

One document from Table 1 (included below)

Two other documents from any of the tables below, one of which must show proof of address

Should the applicant not be able to provide a document from Table 1 then they must instead provide the following:

One document from Table 2a

Two other documents from Table 2a or 2b

Table 1: Primary identity documents

• Current and Valid Passport
• Biometric residence permit
• Current driving licence – photo card with counterpart (Full or Provisional)
• Birth certificate – issued at time of birth

Copies of ID documents must be signed and verified by a member of HR or a line manager

Table 2a: Trusted government documents

• Current driving licence – old-style paper version
• Current photo driving licence
• Birth certificate – issued after time of birth
• Marriage/civil partnership certificate
• Adoption certificate
• HM Forces ID card
• Firearms licence

Table 2b: Financial and social history documents

• Mortgage statement UK or EEA
• Bank or building society statement UK and Channel Islands or EEA
• Bank or building society account opening confirmation letter UK
• Credit card statement UK or EEA
• Financial statement, eg pension or endowment UK
• P45 or P60 statement UK and Channel Islands
• Council Tax statement UK and Channel Islands
• Work permit or visa UK
• Letter of sponsorship from future employment provider Non-UK or non-EEA only – valid only for applicants residing outside of the UK at time of application
• Utility bill UK – not mobile telephone bill
• Benefit statement, eg Child Benefit, Pension UK
• Central or local government, government agency, or local council document giving entitlement, eg from the Department from Work and Pensions, the Employment Service, HMRC UK and Channel Islands
• EU National ID card
• Cards carrying the PASSaccreditation logo UK and Channel Islands
• Letter from Head Teacher or College Principal UK – for 16 to 19 year olds in full time education – only used in exceptional circumstances if other documents cannot be provided

Application fees – £99

This service is only available to De Montfort College students

Can I cancel my application?

If you change your mind prior to your application being processed then we will try to offer a full refund. In such circumstances as where we have already submitted your application and a relevant payment to The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) on your behalf, we will not be able to offer a full refund. We will not be able to recover the fee paid to The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and therefore this amount will not be refunded.

If you have any questions or would like some further advice please e-mail info@dmc.ac or telephone us on 0345 652 0098 ( local rate including mobiles ). We’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have.