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Employers can check the criminal record of someone applying for a role. This is known as getting a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

You can request a more detailed check for certain roles, for example in healthcare or childcare.

Types of check

You can request:

• a basic check, which shows unspent convictions and conditional cautions
• a standard check, which shows spent and unspent convictions and cautions
• an enhanced check, which shows the same as a standard check plus any information held by local police that鈥檚 considered relevant to the role
• an enhanced check with barred lists, which shows the same as an enhanced check plus whether the applicant is on the list of people barred from doing the role

Checking your own criminal record

You can only request a basic check for yourself.

If you鈥檙e self-employed, an organisation you鈥檙e working with can get a standard, enhanced or enhanced with barred lists check for you, where the role is eligible.

When to repeat a check

A DBS check has no official expiry date. Any information included will be accurate at the time the check was carried out. It鈥檚 up to you to decide when a new check is needed.

If the applicant has signed up for the DBS update service you can check whether their certificate is up to date online.

Certificates for previous roles

You can accept a certificate that was requested for a previous role but you must:

• check the applicant鈥檚 identity matches the details on the certificate
• check the certificate is the right level and type for the role applied for
• if the applicant is signed up for the update service

Checks on someone who lived abroad

DBS checks will not cover the time someone lived outside the UK.

Contact DBS

Contact DBS if you鈥檙e not sure whether you can request a check.

You can request a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check on behalf of an employee.

How to do a check

You鈥檒l need to choose a company from the list of 鈥榬esponsible organisations鈥� registered with DBS to process checks. They will carry out the check and tell you the outcome once it鈥檚 complete.

The applicant will receive their certificate by post. They can also set up a to view the certificate online.

How much it costs

A basic check costs 拢21.50. The responsible organisation may also charge an administration fee.

If you do more than 1,000 basic checks each year, you can become a responsible organisation. Contact DBS to find out what鈥檚 involved.

How long it takes

A basic check takes up to 14 days.

If you鈥檙e registered with DBS you can use the tracking service to .

How you request a standard or enhanced check depends on how many checks you do a year.

If you do:

• fewer than 100 checks a year you must use a company known as an 鈥榰mbrella body鈥�
• 100 or more checks a year you can choose to register with DBS or use an umbrella body

How to do a check

1. Ask DBS or your umbrella body for an application form.

2. Give the form to the applicant to fill in.

3. The applicant will return the completed form to you along with documents proving their identity.

4. Send the completed application form to DBS or your umbrella body.

5. DBS will send a certificate to the applicant. You must ask the applicant to show it to you so you can check it鈥檚 a genuine certificate.

How much it costs

How much it costs depends on the type of check.

Type of check	Cost
Standard	拢21.50
Enhanced	拢49.50
Enhanced with barred lists	拢49.50

Checks are free for volunteers.

How long it takes

It usually takes around 14 days but it can take longer if:

• the details given for the check are incorrect
• several police forces need to be involved in the check

You cannot pay more to get a faster check.

If you鈥檙e registered with DBS you can use the tracking service to .

Checks on carers

If you provide care services for adults (for example in a care home), you can use a service called .

This will confirm, usually within 2 days, if the applicant:

• can start work, as long as they鈥檙e supervised
• should wait for the results of an enhanced check

The service costs an extra 拢6.