What is the DBS Update Service?
The DBS Update Service is an official online subscription service that keeps applicants’ DBS certificates up-to-date, removing the need for a new check. It also enables employers to quickly verify if there have been any changes to an employee’s criminal record since the certificate was originally issued.
Without the Update Service, it is not possible to see if a individuals criminal history has changed until a new certificate has been issued. The Update Service allows DBS checks to remain valid indefinitely, as long as the individual doesn’t receive any changes to their criminal record!
Standard and Enhanced DBS certificates can be subscribed to the Service. It is not possible for a Basic DBS to be added.
The Problem With The Update Service
To check the Update Service (without Aaron’s Department’s help) requires the organisation to manually log in to each applicants account to see if there has been a change.
Manually checking is time-consuming and prone to errors. Staff may forget to check, delay checks or make mistakes, which could put your organisation at risk.
Whilst it may not be too bad if you only have one or two employees, this task quickly gets worse the more you have to check. The more boring it is, the easier it becomes to make it a “put-to-one-side and do it later” job. We’ve all been there!
The Solution: Automated Daily Checks
Aaron’s Department provides an exclusive time-saving service that automatically checks (daily!) to see if there have been any changes to an individual’s certificate on the DBS Update Service, and notifies you if there has been a change. Simply set up, and forget about it! We’ll make sure you’re informed of any changes.
Why Regularly Check the Update Service?
Regular updates are critical for safeguarding. A change to a certificate could indicate that an individual is no longer suitable to work with vulnerable groups. Protecting your organisation, and the vulnerable individuals you serve, has never been easier.
Perks of using Aaron’s Department for the Update Service
How much does the DBS Update Service cost?
The DBS Update service costs £16 per year in government fees, and the subscription starts from the day of the DBS certificate issue date.
If the applicant meets the DBS’s definition of a Volunteer, then the £16 government fee is waived.
Our Automatic Update Service checker costs just £1 per month, per subscriber.
The table below shows how the Update Service can save employers money by removing the need for regular DBS checks:
How does the DBS Update Service Work?
To register online for the DBS Update Service, an applicant must have had a Standard or Enhanced DBS check issued within the last 30 days.
With Aaron’s Department,adding a DBS certificate to the Update Service is as simple as checking a box during the application process, and we’ll ensure the subscription is created.
To view an applicant’s Update Service account, you’ll need the applicant’s name, date of birth, and their 12-digit DBS certificate reference number.
What happens if the Update Service detects a change?
If there is a change to the applicants’ status on the DBS update service, it is your decision as an employer whether to get a new DBS check for the individual. That said, we would strongly recommend that you get a new check for them.
Most of the businesses that use the Update Service are regulated by either Ofsted, or the CQC – and both of these regulators may view the lack of a new check as a breach of safeguarding standards.
If you’re a user of our Automatic Update Service Checker, you’ll know as soon a change is detected and a new check is required, ensuring no-one is put at risk, and high safeguarding standards are maintained!
Summary: The DBS Update Service
The DBS Update Service is an official, government-run system that keeps DBS checks legally up-to-date for as long as the subscriber’s criminal record remains unchanged. It’s a great way to save money by removing the need for regular staff DBS checks. However, the Update Service needs manually checking, which is a repetitive, time-consuming task.
Our Automatic Update Service Checker checks the Update Service automatically, and immediately notifies employers if it detects a change in status. This can save lots of time (and, therefore, money) previously spent manually checking the DBS Update Service.
For more information, please feel free to drop us an email at contact@aaronsdepartment.com, or call 0113 877 0171
– we’re always happy to help.
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About The Author
John Schofield-Antoncich
John has processed more applications than days he has been alive, and has become the DBS expert. Got a question? He knows the answer!