WHAT IS AN ENHANCED DBS CHECK
An enhanced DBS Check, formerly known as a CRB Check, is the highest level of criminal background check available in the UK, conducted by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). It’s typically required for roles involving work with children or vulnerable adults.
There are two types of Enhanced DBS Checks available:
- Enhanced with Barring List
- Enhanced without Barring List.
The Enhanced check with a Barring List is required for positions such as therapists, counsellors, psychotherapist, teachers, healthcare workers, taxi drivers, and dentists. Counsellors and Psychotherapists are required to have one with the Barring List regardless if they are in the public or private sector.
WHO CAN APPLY FOR AN ENHANCED DBS CHECK
Enhanced DBS Checks can only be requested by a company, not an individual which means Grey Matters Centre is able to apply for one for you. This is due to the protected nature of criminal information in the UK, and ensures that only those who are eligible are able to access this data.
WHAT WILL AN ENHANCED DBS CHECK SHOW
- Unspent and spent convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings (unless protected or filtered).
- Information held on the Police National Computer (PNC).
- Information from local police forces if it is considered relevant to the role.
- Check against barred lists (if requested).
- Children’s Barring List
- Adult’s Barred List
WHO NEEDS AN ENHANCED DBS CHECK?
You may need one if you are applying for roles such as:
- Therapists, Psychotherapists Counsellors etc
- Teachers and teaching assistants
- Care workers and NHS staff
- Foster carers
- Social workers
- Childminders
- Scout/Guide leaders or sports coaches working with under-18’s
HOW TO GET ONE
You cannot apply for an Enhanced DBS check on your own. It must be requested by an employer or an organisation, a registered umbrella body such as Grey Matters Centre.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE
Usually 1 to 4 weeks but it can take longer if extra checks are needed or if there are delays with police force.
HOW TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT TO APPLY FOR YOUR ENHANCED DBS
Please go to the booking section on this page to book your appointment. You will be able to choose from the dates and times shown. If there are no dates shown this means we are fully booked at this time.
PAYMENT
The cost of an Enhanced DBS is £85 and this fee will be taken at the time of booking your appointment.
Once you’ve booked, you’ll receive:
- A confirmation email
- An information booklet – this includes everything you need to know, including which documents to bring.
IMPORTANT:
Your appointment is 50 minutes long. We only have 50 minutes to complete everything so arriving fully prepared is essential.
- Bring your completed form
- Bring all required documents (as listed in the booklet you will receive when you book an appointment).
PLEASE NOTE
- All of our checks are certified to ISO 27001 and holds Cyber Essentials certification. You can be confident that your information is safe with us!
- All information gathered for this application will only be used for the purpose of eligible vetting and screening checks.
- By booking an appointment with us, you are giving your consent for your application to be processed and countersigned by UCheck.
- By booking an appointment with us, you agree to provide complete and true information in support of your application and understand that knowingly making a false statement for this purpose is a criminal offence.
- If you have any convictions these will be kept confidential to you and not disclosed to us.
- The Enhanced DBS Certificate will show full details of a criminal record including: Spent or unspent convictions, Cautions, Warnings, Reprimands and will also include any notes from local police that they believe is relevant for an employer.
DOCUMENTS YOU WILL NEED TO BRING WITH YOU FOR THE ID VERIFICATION PROCESS
You will need to provide at least one document from Group A and another one from Group B.
GROUP A
- Passport (Current and valid)
- Biometric residence permit (UK-Must show full name and date of birth)
- Birth Certificate (Issued within 12 months of birth)
- Current Driving Licence (Full and provisional UK, Isle of Man and Channel Islands)
- Immigration Document issued by the Home Office
- Adoption certificate (UK and Channel Islands)
GROUP B
- Mortgage statement (UK or EEA issued in the last 12 months
- Bank or building society statement (UK and Channel Islands or EEA issued in the last 3 months)
- Bank or building society account opening confirmation letter (UK issued in last 3 months)
- Credit card statement (issued in the last 3 months)
- Financial statement e.g. pension or endowment (UK issued in the last 12 months)
- P45 or P60 statement (UK and Channel Islands issued in the last 12 months)
- Council Tax statement (UK and Channel Islands issued in the last 12 months)
- Utility bill (UK – not mobile telephone bill – issued in the last 3 months)
- Benefit statement e.g Child Benefit, Pension (UK issued in the last 3 months)
- Central or local government, government agency, or local council document giving entitlement e.g from the Department for Work and Pensions, the Employment Service, HMRC )UK and Channel Islands issued in the last 3 months
- EEA National ID card (Must still be valid)
- Irish Passport card (Must still be valid)
- HM Forces ID Card (UK, Isle of Man and Channel Islands)
- Cards carrying the PASS accreditation logo (UK, Isle of Man and Channel Islands. Must still be valid)
- Letter from Head Teacher or College Principle (UK for 16-19 year olds in full time education- only used in exceptional circumstances if other documents cannot be provided)
- One of Group A that you didn’t use previously
If you have any questions before your appointment, feel free to contact us!