DBS FAQs
No, Eurocom CI Ltd is an independent company and one of the registered bodies which can provide a criminal record checking service. We process basic checks, standard DBS checks, and enhanced criminal record checks for England and Wales under registered body reference: 30025000000. Eurocom CI Ltd is a responsible body for Scottish Basic Disclosures under reference as well as a registered organisation with Access NI.
DBS – the Disclosure and Barring Service – refers to the new agency created out of a merger between the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and The Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA). The checks and information provided by DBS are the same as those that were provided by CRB. However, since the 1st December 2012, CRB checks have been re-branded as DBS checks.
Before you commence your DBS application, please ensure you have the following:
Before you commence your application for standard or enhanced criminal record checking, please ensure you have the following:
IMPORTANT: You must have your ID documents correctly verified by a representative of the company/organisation that has requested your check (This cannot be a relative or someone in your household, even if they are your employer . It will need to be someone else from the organisation or the contractor of the services which requires the DBS check to be done). We require your documents to have been seen by this representative and they must complete the ID verification of the application with the login details that we will provide. We recommend that you provide a copy and your original ID documents to your employer. They will be able to complete the ID verification section of your application with the instructions and login details that we will send them. If you are self employed then an umbrella organistion such as Eurocom CI ltd can undertake the ID verification for you. We process our ID verifications electrically by a Home Office approved IDVT system. If self employed individuals or employees working for individual employers fail their electronic ID verification then Eurocom CI will be in touch to request further documents to ensure that a DBS check can be ID verified.
The DBS does not allow individuals to request a Standard or Enhanced Disclosure unless they are self employed or of they work for a private individual employer. When applying for a DBS check ensure that an Umbrella body such as Eurocom CI Ltd are used and that an ID verification is added to the order in order that we can undertake the ID verification that would normally be done by an employer. You can only apply for an Enhanced or Standard DBS check if you will be doing a specified role as per ROA Exceptions Order 1975 as a self employed individual or for an individual employer. When applying for an Enhanced or Standard DBS check, we can verify your ID electronically. If you are self-employed or a contractor, this would apply if you are working for a nanny directly for parents. Even though they are not 'employing' you, they are employing your services. If you are unsure who your employer is, please give us a call to check so that you do not incur an admin fee deduction in case the application gets cancelled. If you are currently looking for work in a profession in which a Standard or Enhanced Disclosure check is required, then you cannot apply for a check until you have actually been offered a position with an employer or are registered as self employed.
Access to the DBS checking service is only available to registered employers who are entitled by law to ask an individual to reveal their full criminal history (other than protected cautions and convictions), including spent criminal convictions. This process is also known as ‘asking the exempted question’. An exempted question applies when the individual will be working in specific occupations, for certain licenses and specified positions. These are covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. The minimum age at which someone can be asked to apply for a criminal record check is 16 years old. To find out more information about who is eligible for a criminal record check, follow this link.
There is no set time limit for how long a DBS lasts. Unless you have subscribed to the DBS’s update service, you may be asked to reapply for a DBS check by all future potential employers, even if you have previously held a DBS certificate. You may also be required to be rechecked periodically while working for just one employer. It is up to employers to decide how frequently they want their employees to be rechecked. You may wish to ask your employer the following questions when you are first requested to complete a criminal record check:
There are a number of different levels; refer to Q10 to see which one you qualify for. Basic – Provided by the Disclosure and Barring Service, £41.50 Standard – Provided by the Disclosure and Barring Service, £53.30 Enhanced – Provided by the Disclosure and Barring Service, £81.30
A Basic Disclosure DBS certificate is open to everyone regardless of their occupation. Individuals can apply for it themselves, or employers can request a basic DBS check for a potential employee with their consent. Standard Disclosures can only be requested for those engaged in or entering a profession as specified in the Exceptions Order to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This check should NOT be requested just because it is the quickest. Examples of professions that may qualify for Standard Disclosures include:
Basic Disclosures normally take around 48 hours after they have been submitted. Once complete, our system will send an email notification and if requested DBS certificate is sent by 2nd class post the same day. Standard Disclosures are completed by the Police and the DBS (who issue certificates directly to the applicant). Standard Disclosures are normally completed within 48 hrs after submitting to the DBS. Enhanced Disclosures are completed by the Police and the DBS, and they can take longer as the checks are more detailed. The average turnaround time is usually around 5-10 working days. A small number do take longer to complete stage 4, which is where the police conduct additional checks. Once complete, our system will send an email notification and the certificate will be sent by mail the same day. Please note that we cannot guarantee a turnaround time for any of the DBS checks, we rely on your employer to verify your ID documents before they are submitted to the DBS and the DBS to send results.
The Enhanced and Standard DBS check certificates are sent to the current address that was provided in the DBS check application. For Basic DBS check there is an option to select that no paper copy is sent and instead an electronic certificate is issued.
Original documents, should be given to your employer for the ID verification process of your online application. Please do not send us original documents. If applying as a self employed individuals we will be undertaking ID verification electronically via an Home Office approved IDSP service. This does not require the verification of original documentation unless the electronic ID verification fails. We will be in touch with you to request further information if this arises.
Section 60 of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 defines a Child as “a person who has not attained the age of 18″.
The term ‘vulnerable adult’ has been amended as it was felt to be inappropriate to label an adult as vulnerable solely due to their circumstances, age or disability. In general terms, an adult (a person aged 18 or over) is classed as vulnerable when they are receiving one of the following services:
The DBS update service is a yearly subscription service provided directly by the DBS for applicants. Currently, the service costs £16 per certificate, per year (or free for volunteers). This service streamlines the DBS checking process by allowing applicants to store their DBS certificate information securely online, making it accessible at any time.
Once registered with the DBS Update Service, the applicant can log in and check the status of their DBS certificate or share it with employers. This eliminates the need to request a new DBS check for every job, as long as the new role requires the same level of check. The system is especially valuable in sectors with frequent job transitions, such as healthcare, education, and social care.
To subscribe, applicants can sign up to the DBS online update service after receiving their E-form reference number or the Disclosure certificate number. Registration must occur within 30 days of the certificate’s issue date. If an individual fails to register during this window, they will need to apply for a new DBS check and start the process again. The service supports multiple certificate types, but portability depends on the level of check. For instance, if a person holds a Basic DBS certificate and applies for a role requiring a Standard or Enhanced DBS check, they must submit a new application. The update service DBS is not designed to upgrade certificates but to maintain and reuse valid certificates for similar roles within the same workforce type and check level. In addition to its cost and convenience, the DBS check update feature ensures that employers can verify certificate validity and any changes to a person’s criminal record since the last check. Employers can perform a DBS update service check using the certificate number and the applicant’s permission. This helps reduce hiring delays and ensures safer recruitment practices across industries. Once enrolled, applicants receive a unique DBS Update Service ID. This identifier is used to access their account and manage their subscription. Employers may also use the certificate number to request access to view certificate updates with consent. The update service DBS system automatically checks for changes to an applicant’s record on a regular basis. If a change is detected, the certificate status will indicate that a new check is needed. This proactive alerting system protects both applicants and employers, helping to ensure that employment decisions are based on the most accurate and recent information available. Furthermore, the DBS check update service provides significant administrative benefits to employers. Rather than managing piles of paper records and expiration dates, HR departments can use the update service to instantly validate the status of existing checks. The DBS Update Service is a secure, reliable, and cost-effective solution for maintaining valid DBS certificates across multiple employment opportunities. By registering and staying subscribed, applicants avoid unnecessary reapplications, while employers benefit from simplified compliance and ongoing safeguarding. Ultimately, the issue date of a DBS certificate becomes less significant as long as the applicant is actively subscribed to the update service. It brings both transparency and flexibility to the criminal record check process. For more information on this service, including eligibility and registration support, please contact the DBS directly (contact details available in Q18).Yes, but the request for a copy of the DBS certificate must be made within 3 months of the date of issue. Please follow the link below to learn how to request a copy; https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-certificate-reprint-guide/dbs-certificate-reprint-guide We do not receive copies of the DBS certificates and these must be requested directly from the DBS.
