Thousands of people apply for a police check through the Disclosure and Barring Service, or DBS, every month. Most of them will breeze through the process without any difficulty, but figures show that delays in DBS checks are becoming more common. There are lots of things which you can do to minimise your chances of falling foul of lengthy delays, by taking care over the completion of your DBS form. Following our helpful suggestions will help you steer clear of errors that could potentially lead to delays in receiving your DBS certificate.
Most Common Application Mistakes
The most important advice is to take care when filling in the form and input your basic name information accurately. One common mistake is using names which don’t match the names given on your official documents. For example, if the name on your passport is Sarah Jane Smith, this is what you must enter in the form, even if you are known by everyone as Jane. Jane should only be in the “also known as” fields. Remember also to list other names you have been known as, if you have changed your name on marriage, or by deed poll.
Take care also over your date of birth, making sure not to transpose date and month so that 11th of July becomes the 7th of November. This is easily done and can also lead to delays in processing when the discrepancy is noted. Always check through the form fully before submitting it to the DBS.
Address Mistakes
After the basic details section, the most common problems and mistakes on a DBS form occur in the address section. The form asks for a complete five-year address history. This means leaving no gap, specifying the month and year you moved, and listing even overseas addresses. Always give the full address, including the postcode. People with a non-standard address history may struggle with this section. Some of the most common reasons for confusion are:
- No fixed abode: if you were sofa surfing, or staying in a different place every few nights, list no fixed abode in the address section, giving dates.
- Students: give both term time campus addresses and home address with parents when competing the section.
- Overseas: you don’t need to list addresses of holiday accommodation or overseas addresses for short trips out of the UK. Any longer period of residence overseas should be listed on the form.
Identity Documents for DBS Checks
After completing the form, you will be asked to show some identity documents to verify who you are. There is a long list of accepted documents on the government website, including things like passport, driving licence and birth certificate. You will also be asked to show utility bills or bank statements to confirm your current residential address. If you struggle to gather together the correct documents, then check with the DBS about whether there is another combination of paperwork they will accept. Guessing and submitting the wrong documents is bound to lead to delays in the system.
