If you work in a position that requires a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, you’ll know that it’s a vital part of safeguarding vulnerable individuals. But what happens when your DBS certificate is about to expire, or you want to change jobs? In this post, we’ll answer all your questions about DBS renewal and the DBS Update Service.
What is DBS renewal?
There isn’t a specific product or service known as DBS renewal – it’s just the process of updating your DBS certificate. There are a few ways you can go about this, such as by using the DBS Update Service, which we’ll talk about in more detail further in the blog.
Do I need to renew my DBS certificate?
If you work in a role that requires a DBS check, a DBS renewal should be done either at the request of your employer, or before joining a new workplace that requires DBS checks for their employees. Often, employers will cover the costs of their employees’ checks, but they aren’t obliged to.
Sometimes, you won’t have to renew your DBS certificate at all, as it’s entirely up to your workplace whether they want you to have a DBS check done.
Do I Need to Renew my DBS When it Expires?
No – this is because DBS checks don’t have an expiry date. They are simply a record of details up to the date they were performed. If there has been a lot of time since a person’s last check though, it may be necessary to get a new, more up-to-date one, but this doesn’t mean the previous one is expired or invalid.
How do I Renew my DBS Certificate?
To complete a DBS renewal, you need to pay for, and fill out, a new application form and submit it to the DBS. The DBS will carry out a criminal record check and issue an updated certificate, disclosing the same information shown in your previous certificate*, along with any new information. Alternatively, you can subscribe to the DBS Update Service.
*There are some situations where information shown in an old DBS certificate will not be disclosed in an updated one. For example, a Basic DBS check only shows unspent convictions – so if a conviction becomes spent after doing a Basic check, further Basic certificates won’t show it.
What is The DBS Update Service?
The DBS Update Service is a subscription service that helps you to keep your DBS certificate up to date and allows employers to see if there have been any changes to an individual’s DBS status – making DBS renewal a lot easier.
By subscribing to the service, you can avoid having to apply for (and pay for!) fresh DBS certificates in workplaces that require regular checks. Instead, you’ll pay an annual fee, and have your account & employer will be notified if there are any changes to your DBS-relevant details (this includes criminal records as well as less serious things like police cautions).
The subscription fee is likely to be lower than the price of applying for a new DBS check every year, or even every few years.
The DBS Update Service, despite the name, does not automatically update an individual’s certificate – it just lets them and their employers know if & when a new certificate needs issuing. So you’ll still have to pay for DBS renewal on top of the subscription charge, but only when absolutely necessary.
This may seem a bit stingy at first, but it’s just how the government’s system works. For businesses that require regular checks, the Update Service will still be more economical than getting every member of staff a yearly check for their DBS renewal.
How do I Subscribe to The DBS Update Service?
You can subscribe to the DBS Update Service when your initial DBS check is complete, as long as it within 28 days of the certificate being issued. To sign up, you need your DBS certificate number, and you can pay the annual subscription fee online. Once you’re subscribed, you’ll be able to log in to your account and check your status, as well as allow potential employers to check your status too.
Aaron’s Department’s Automatic Update Service Checking
Employers can sign up their employees to the Update Service themselves with our Automatic DBS Update service. Exclusive to Aaron’s Department, this will automatically check to see if there have been any changes to an individual’s certificate, saving you the time and hassle of doing it yourself.
You see, as useful as the government system is, it has a flaw. When using the system, every employee’s profile must be manually logged into and checked by their employer every time they want to see whether there have been any changes. This can take up a lot of time, especially for big organisations with lots of staff on the Update Service, so having a system that does it automatically is a substantial plus.
If you are an employer looking to sign your staff up to the DBS Update Service through an Umbrella Body, consider using Aaron’s department. Here’s a link to our page for employers.
Conclusion: DBS Renewal
In conclusion, DBS renewal is a crucial process for anyone who works in a position that requires a DBS check. By renewing your employees’ DBS certificates, you can ensure that you’re meeting your responsibilities to safeguard vulnerable individuals. By subscribing to the DBS Update Service, you can make the process of DBS renewal quicker, cheaper, and more straightforward.
What are the benefits of using Aaron’s Department?
Aaron’s Department, a Registered DBS Umbrella Body, offers employers a direct link to the government for processing DBS checks, as well as the aforementioned Automatic Update Service Checking System. Here are some other perks of using Aaron’s Department for your DBS needs:
- Error-proof system identifies mistakes in real-time, ensuring a smooth application process.
- Free DBS fast-track: every check we receive before 4pm on a weekday is manually checked, countersigned, and sent on to the DBS the very same day. The faster we do that, the faster you get your check back.
- Low-cost DBS check admin fees, starting from £3.11
- Built-in tracking system for easy monitoring.
- Our 3-step, registration process is fast and free – you could have your Enhanced DBS results within hours of signing up.
- Eligibility guidance provided on our website and through customer support.
We hope you’ve answered all your DBS renewal questions, but if there’s anything else you’d like to ask, just let us know at contact@aaronsdepartment.com or reach us on +44 113 877 0171. We’re always happy to help.