THE LEVELS
Four types of check
A basic check shows unspent convictions; standard adds spent ones; enhanced adds relevant local police information; and enhanced with barred lists also shows whether someone is barred from the role.
Compare the checks
WHAT THE GUIDANCE SAYS
The right check
for the role.
Volunteer-run tech clubs, from laptop help sessions to coding evenings, often ask whether helpers need a DBS check.
The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) issues criminal record checks for England and Wales. Which check, if any, depends on the role, not on the club. This independent guide sets out what GOV.UK says about the four levels, the costs for volunteers and how long checks take.
CHECK the role
Compare the checks- The role decides
- Free for volunteers
- No fixed expiry
- Safer recruitment, step by step
THE SHORT ANSWER
It depends
on the role.
The DBS issues four types of check.
More detailed checks are only for certain roles, such as those in childcare or healthcare.
COSTS
Free for volunteers
GOV.UK says standard and enhanced checks are free for volunteers. A basic check costs £20, and organisations may add an administration fee.
See the numbers
WHO DECIDES
Organisations request it
An individual cannot apply for a standard check by themselves: a recruiting organisation must need it. GOV.UK has an online tool to find out which check a role can get.
Four stepsGeneral information only, not professional safety advice. If someone is in immediate danger, call the emergency services.
FOUR STEPS FOR A CLUB
From role
to certificate.
This is the general process GOV.UK describes for standard and enhanced checks. It is not legal advice; check the guidance for your own situation.
Check what the role can have
Use GOV.UK's 'Find out what type of DBS check you can get' tool. Many roles are only eligible for a basic check.
Go through an umbrella body
Organisations doing fewer than 100 standard or enhanced checks a year must use an umbrella body; larger ones can register with DBS.
Applicant fills in the form
The volunteer completes the application and provides documents proving their identity, which go to DBS or the umbrella body.
See the certificate
DBS sends the certificate to the applicant. The organisation must ask to see it and check it is genuine.
TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING
What it costs,
and how long it takes.
One number for a club's budget,
one for planning ahead.
£0
Standard or enhanced check for a volunteer
Standard and enhanced checks are free for volunteers. To count as a volunteer for the Update Service, you must not be paid for the role apart from approved travel and out-of-pocket expenses.
COST · GOV.UK
≈ 8 weeks
Usual wait for standard and enhanced checks
It can be shorter or longer depending on the type of check, whether the details given are correct and which police forces need to be involved. A basic check takes up to 14 days.
TIMING · GOV.UK
A DBS check has no official expiry date. GOV.UK says it is up to the organisation to decide when a new check is needed.
A QUICK DBS CHECK
What does each
check show?
Pick a level to see what it shows and what it costs. The bar shows how much information the check includes compared with the others.
For organisations registered in England or Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own systems.
THE UPDATE SERVICE
One check,
kept up to date.
The DBS Update Service lets someone keep their certificate up to date and lets organisations check online whether anything has changed. It costs £15 a year, and there is no charge for volunteers.
Applicants must register within 30 days of the certificate being issued, and a subscription lasts a year. An organisation can accept a certificate from a previous role, but GOV.UK says it must check the identity matches and that the certificate is the right level and type for the new role.
Questions
Questions people ask
Do volunteers have to pay for a DBS check?
GOV.UK says standard and enhanced checks are free for volunteers. A basic check costs £20, and the organisation handling it may add an administration fee.
Can I get a standard DBS check for myself?
No. DBS says an individual cannot apply for a standard check by themselves; a recruiting organisation must need it. GOV.UK says people applying for a role can sometimes request an enhanced check for themselves.
How long does a DBS check last?
A DBS check has no official expiry date. It is accurate at the time it was carried out, and organisations decide when a new one is needed. The Update Service can show whether anything has changed.
How long does an enhanced DBS check take?
GOV.UK says standard and enhanced checks usually take around 8 weeks, though it can vary. A basic check takes up to 14 days.
Is this the same in Scotland?
No. DBS covers England and Wales (and the Channel Islands and Isle of Man). Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own criminal record check processes.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Check someone's criminal record
- GOV.UK: DBS Update Service
- GOV.UK: Find out what type of DBS check you can get
- Disclosure and Barring Service: About us
Updated