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APPLY FOR A DBS CHECK

Clear Check have developed a system to make the process of applying for a DBS check very simple and straight forward, whether it be for a Basic, Standard or an Enhanced DBS Certificate. The step-by-step guide has been detailed below.

STEP ONE – COMPLETING AN APPLICATION

For a Basic DBS check certificate, simply complete the short form and make payment for your application. The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) ID checking guidelines now incorporate digital identity checks in order to confirm an individual’s identity and address. Applicants will be required to provide proof of a digital ID check (fees may apply) dated within three months of their application. The ID check must be carried out by a government approved IDSP to be valid in conjunction with a basic DBS check application.

For Standard and Enhanced DBS checks, the process is slightly different but not too dissimilar. Firstly, it is the employer that must carry out the check on the employee’s behalf and, as the employer, you will first need to register for a Corporate Account. Once your account has been created, you will have access to your own Corporate Cloud dashboard where you will be able to apply, manage, monitor, and store all of your employees’ applications/certificates in one secure location.

STEP TWO – PROVING WHO YOU ARE

For a Basic DBS application, there are several ways in which to prove and verify your ID and where you live. This is an essential part of the process, and we will provide you with a few different ways to have your documents checked by a third party.

For Standard and Enhanced DBS checks, it is again the employer or a member of the organisation (Verifier) that must view and confirm the Identity and Proof of Address documents belonging to the applicant. We will also provide you with a list of acceptable documents that are allowed to be used when completing these DBS checks.

STEP THREE – THE CHECKS

For a Basic DBS application, once the application has been manually reviewed by our verification team, it will be submitted to the DBS to be processed. The DBS will then carry out the necessary police and background checks, and the certificate will be sent directly to the address (or care-of address if provided) on the application. We also provide Tracked and Recorded delivery options if applying from overseas, or if you are applying via a company and the certificate is to be sent to a care-of address.

For Standard and Enhanced DBS checks, after the application has been submitted to the DBS, extensive background checks on the individual are carried out which will highlight if the applicant has any spent or unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, or warnings. It will also detail any information the police currently hold on record for this individual.

DBS CHECKS IN THE UK

There are 3 different levels of DBS checks that you can apply for, and they are:

Basic DBS
A Basic DBS will show any unspent criminal convictions or conditional cautions held on record.

Standard DBS
A Standard DBS will not only show details of any unspent, but also spent criminal convictions or conditional cautions held on record.

Enhanced DBS
Similar to a Standard DBS check, the enhanced will so show details of any spent and unspent criminal convictions or conditional cautions held on record, as well as other vital information held on local police databases.

WHY DO WE NEED POLICE CHECKING?

Not every job role requires a background check into an applicant’s police record. In general terms, the roles which will need checking are positions of trust in financial institutions and the legal profession, or any job involving vulnerable groups like patients in hospital, children, disabled adults, or the elderly. The checks are invaluable for a prospective employer to ensure that a candidate is suitable for the position when assessing the feasibility of recruiting and hiring someone for a role within their organisation.

UK DIFFERENCES IN DBS CHECKS

It’s important to note that the DBS handles background checks for applicants residing within England and Wales only. There are similar systems for conducting background checks in Scotland and Northern Ireland, known as Disclosure Scotland and AccessNI respectively. These organisations may use different terminology and have separate application processes, but the application process is largely the same.

Pricing

Individuals applying for a DBS Check:

DBS CHECK – BASIC	DBS FEE	ORGANISATION FEE	VAT – ON ORG FEE (20%)	TOTAL COST*
One-off Basic DBS Check	£21.50	£47.50	£9.50	£78.50

Organisations WITH a registered account:

(Annual corporate account fee: £37.50 +VAT)

DBS CHECK – BASIC	DBS FEE (as of 2nd Dec 2024)	ORGANISATION FEE	VAT – ON ORG FEE (20%)	TOTAL COST* (per check)
Up to 100 Checks	£21.50	£47.50	£9.50	£78.50
100 – 300 Checks	£21.50	£33.83	£6.77	£62.10
300 – 500 Checks	£21.50	£31.83	£6.37	£59.70
500 – 700 Checks	£21.50	£27.83	£5.57	£54.90
700 – 1000 Checks	£21.50	£24.83	£4.97	£51.30
1000 – 2000 Checks	£21.50	£20.83	£4.17	£46.50
2000 – 3000 Checks	£21.50	£17.83	£3.57	£42.90
3000 – 4000 Checks	£21.50	£14.83	£2.97	£39.30
4000 – 5000 Checks	£21.50	£10.83	£2.17	£34.50
Over 5000 Checks	£21.50	£9.33	£1.87	£32.70

DISCLOSURE SCOTLAND	DISCLOSURE SCOTLAND FEE	ORGANISATION FEE	VAT – ON ORG FEE (20%)	TOTAL COST* (per check)
Up to 100 Checks	£25	£44.58	£8.92	£78.50
100 – 300 Checks	£25	£30.92	£6.18	£62.10
300 – 500 Checks	£25	£28.92	£5.78	£59.70
500 – 700 Checks	£25	£24.92	£4.98	£54.90
700 – 1000 Checks	£25	£21.92	£4.38	£51.30
1000 – 2000 Checks	£25	£17.92	£3.58	£46.50
2000 – 3000 Checks	£25	£14.92	£2.98	£42.90
3000 – 4000 Checks	£25	£11.92	£2.38	£39.30
4000 – 5000 Checks	£25	£7.92	£1.58	£34.50
Over 5000 Checks	£25	£6.42	£1.28	£32.70

*Overseas applicants will incur an air mail surcharge of £16 (inc. VAT)

DBS CHECK – STANDARD	DBS FEE (as of 2nd Dec 2024)	ORGANISATION FEE	VAT – ON ORG FEE (20%)	TOTAL COST* (per check)
1 – 50 Checks	£21.50	£16.00	£3.20	£40.70
51 – 500 Checks	£21.50	£9.67	£1.93	£33.10
501 – 1000 Checks	£21.50	£7.00	£1.40	£29.90
1000+ Checks	£21.50	£5.00	£1.00	£27.50

*Overseas applicants will incur an air mail surcharge of £16 (inc. VAT)
Note: DBS fees will not be applied to applicants who meet the criteria for a volunteer check.

DBS CHECK – ENHANCED	DBS FEE (as of 2nd Dec 2024)	ORGANISATION FEE	VAT – ON ORG FEE (20%)	TOTAL COST* (per check)
1 – 50 Checks	£49.50	£16.00	£3.20	£68.70
51 – 500 Checks	£49.50	£9.67	£1.93	£61.10
501 – 1000 Checks	£49.50	£7.00	£1.40	£57.90
1000+ Checks	£49.50	£5.00	£1.00	£55.50