Is The DBS Update Service Worth It?
Summary
The DBS Update Service allows applicants to keep their Standard or Enhanced DBS certificate up to date through a simple online subscription.
The service links your certificate to daily police record checks and gives employers instant access to your status with your consent. Instead of reapplying every time you change jobs, you register within 30 days of receiving your DBS certificate and remain covered as long as your subscription is active. This makes recruitment faster, reduces costs, and provides peace of mind for both applicants and employers.
Introduction
If you work in education, healthcare, social care, or any role that involves safeguarding, you already know how important DBS checks are. They’re not just a hiring formality, they’re a legal safeguard for employers and a badge of trust for applicants.
But here’s the challenge: a DBS certificate only reflects your record at the time it’s issued. Fast forward six months or a year, and an employer has no way of knowing whether anything has changed unless you go through the whole process again.
That’s where the DBS Update Service comes in. It gives you an easy, secure way to keep your Standard or Enhanced DBS certificate valid and up to date without the stress of reapplying each time you switch jobs.
What Is the DBS Update Service?
The DBS Update Service is an official online subscription offered by the UK’s Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). It allows individuals to keep their Standard or Enhanced DBS certificates up to date and enables employers to check whether anything has changed without having to process a new application each time.
Essentially, it's a tool that links your DBS certificate to ongoing, real-time criminal record monitoring.
Once enrolled, your certificate is continuously checked against national police records. If there’s a change to your criminal history, the system updates immediately. Employers can log in and confirm your certificate’s status with your permission saving time, paperwork, and the cost of another background check.
Note: The Basic DBS check is not eligible for the Update Service.
Which DBS Checks Work With It?
Two types of checks are eligible:
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Standard DBS – Shows any spent or unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, or warnings. Often used in roles of trust that don’t involve direct work with vulnerable groups.
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Enhanced DBS – Everything in the Standard check, plus extra information from local police. Required for roles in healthcare, teaching, social work, and any regulated activity.
Both are essential for safeguarding. The Update Service simply makes them easier to manage.
Why a one-off DBS isn’t enough
Think of a DBS certificate like a photograph. It captures a moment in time but it doesn’t update itself. If someone commits an offence after their certificate is issued, an employer won’t know unless a new check is run.
That gap creates risk. The Update Service closes it, giving employers confidence and applicants peace of mind that their certificate is always current.
The Importance of DBS Checks
DBS checks are about more than ticking boxes. They’re a vital part of risk management, safeguarding, and public trust.
Ensuring Safety in Employment
For employers, DBS checks help determine whether a candidate poses any potential risk to vulnerable populations or sensitive environments. For applicants, they’re a mark of credibility showing that you’re clear to work in your chosen field.
Whether you’re a nurse, school administrator, volunteer, or IT technician working with secure systems, the importance of DBS checks cannot be overstated.
Reducing Risks for Employers
Without regular updates to a DBS certificate, employers are left in the dark. An individual could commit an offense after their check was completed—and no one would know unless a new DBS check was ordered.
That gap in information is a major safeguarding risk, which the Update Service is designed to close. Learn more about what the DBS update shows here.
Why The DBS Update Service is Worth It
Now to the big question: Is the DBS Update Service worth it?
Here’s why, for many professionals, the answer is yes:
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Convenience
Once you're on the service, there's no need to keep reapplying for new checks when you change jobs provided the new role is in the same workforce type (e.g., child workforce, adult workforce, or both).
You simply give your new employer permission to check your current status online. That’s it.
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Faster Recruitment
Employers can access your certificate status instantly, which means no waiting weeks for a new check to be processed. That gives you a competitive edge in time-sensitive roles.
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Peace of Mind
With daily updates from the Police National Computer, you and your employers can trust that your certificate is up to date. It’s a level of ongoing due diligence that protects both parties.
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Job Flexibility
If you're in a freelance, temp, or agency-based role where you change employers frequently, the Update Service saves you from the constant cycle of reapplications and fees.
How to Apply Online for DBS Checks
If you haven’t completed your DBS check yet, here’s how the process works:
Step-by-Step Online DBS Application:
- Apply for a DBS check with Online DBS Checks.
- Once your certificate is issued, you’ll have 30 days to register for the Update Service.
- Head to Online DBS Update Service to start your subscription.
- Enter your certificate number and personal details.
- Pay the update service fee (unless you're a volunteer).
- Receive confirmation and a unique ID that future employers can use with your consent to check your certificate status.
Remember, you can’t register before your certificate is issued. You must wait until you receive your certificate number, and then register within 30 calendar days of the issue date.
If you miss the window, you’ll need to request a new DBS check before you can enrol.
Conclusion: Is the DBS Update Service Worth It?
For most applicants, absolutely.
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It works with Standard and Enhanced checks.
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Keeps your record continuously monitored.
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Saves time, money, and stress.
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Makes job changes smoother and faster.
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Costs less than a cup of coffee each month.
If your career involves regular DBS checks, it’s not just worth it, it’s one of the simplest ways to future-proof your employment.
Final Thoughts
The DBS Update Service was designed to remove hassle for both applicants and employers. It offers reassurance, speed, and ongoing compliance that a one-off certificate can’t provide.
If you still need to apply for your DBS check before registering, Online DBS Checks can help. We make the process fast, secure, and compliant, so you can get certified and keep your career moving.
