Enhanced DBS check

  • Contents

    • Overview

    You may be a teacher moving to work in a new school or starting supply work. All teachers and school staff will need to have an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Your school or supply agency will apply for an enhanced check on your behalf. You will not be able to apply for an enhanced DBS check on your own.

    In this article, we explain what enhanced DBS checks are, if you need to pay for them, how often they need to be renewed and what to do if you have questions about your own DBS check.

    What are enhanced DBS checks? 

    All school staff are required to have an enhanced DBS check. This check will reveal any spent or unspent convictions, cautions or reprimands you have, as well as any relevant information held by the local police. It will also show whether you have been barred from working with children or vulnerable adults.

    What is the purpose of the DBS?

    The DBS helps employers (schools and local authorities) make safer recruitment decisions each year by processing and issuing DBS checks for England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. 

    DBS also maintains the adults’ and children’s barred lists and makes the decision on whether an individual should be barred from engaging in regulated activity.

    It was formed in December 2012 through the merger of the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA).

    Do I need to pay for my DBS check?

    Your employer will need to pay for the DBS check. So if you are employed directly by a school, Local Authority of Trust you will not need to pay for an enhanced DBS check.

    What is the update service?

    The update service is an online subscription, that allows applicants to keep their DBS certificates up-to-date and allows employers to view an applicant’s certificate.

    Further information

    You can contact the DBS here or your school if you have any questions about your individual enhanced DBS check.

    In addition, you can contact us if you have been refused a role because of a recent DBS check or are concerned about any upcoming DBS checks.

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    The information contained within this article is not a complete or final statement of the law.
    While Edapt has sought to ensure that the information is accurate and up-to-date, it is not responsible and will not be held liable for any inaccuracies and their consequences, including any loss arising from relying on this information. This article may contain information sourced from public sector bodies and licensed under the Open Government Licence. If you are an Edapt subscriber with an employment-related issue, please contact us and we will be able to refer you to one of our caseworkers.