Applicant DBS certifcates

All candidates applying for current domestic staff jobs through Domestic Bliss Appointments must have a valid DBS certificate dated within the last 12 months. Some employers especially those with children may request an Enhanced Disclosure.

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is an agency of the Home Office which provides a service for public, private and voluntary sector organisations to make safer recruitment decision.

This service for providing security information about a candidate is known as a DBS check and the candidate will receive a DBS certificate which is used like a reference to show they have passed a level of security.

There are two levels of DBS check that apply to those applying for work through Domestic Bliss Appointments Agency.

Standard DBS check – which reveals details of any convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings held on the Police National Computer.

Enhanced DBS check – requested by private homes and especially applicable for candidates working, for example, with children.  This is a deeper check with local police forces. The application immediately warns of anyone with a record who would be unsuitable for certain work, especially that which involves children or vulnerable adults.

A DBS certificate shows the information that the police, or the DBS if applicable, hold on the candidate at the time that the check is made.  For this reason, we ask that the DBS certificate be no more than 12 months’ old. There is an update service for this purpose.

Domestic DBS Appointments works with a specialist DBS Agency who can arrange a DBS check for you. You can be given advice to apply for a standard DBS check or an enhanced DBS check.

The DBS check belongs to you and the certificate is posted directly to you, so whether you apply for and accept a job through us or through other avenues, you will have the DBS certificate.

If you apply for a job through us and do not have a valid DBS certificate, we will advise you on what information we will need and what documents you will need to provide us for the DBS application.

Individuals can now join the DBS Update Service putting them in greater control of their information; allowing them to update their DBS certificates when applying for similar jobs.

This will reduce bureaucracy and save time and money. If an individual subscribes to the Update Service their employer can go online with their consent, and carry out a free, instant check to find out if the information released on the DBS certificate is current and up-to-date.

The government guide is https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-application-forms-guide-for-applicants

The person going through a DBS check (the applicant) must be able to show their employer original documents (so they can take genuine copies) to prove their identity.

The documents needed will depend on the route the application takes. The applicant must try to provide documents from Route 1 first.

Route 1

The applicant must be able to show:

• one document from Group 1, below
• 2 further documents from either Group 1, or Group 2a or 2b, below

At least one of the documents must show the applicant’s current address.

Route 2

If the applicant doesn’t have any of the documents in Group 1, then they must be able to show:

• one document from Group 2a
• 2 further documents from either Group 2a or 2b

At least one of the documents must show the applicant’s current address. The organisation conducting their ID check must then also use an appropriate external ID validation service to check the application.

Route 3

Route 3 can only be used if it’s impossible to process the application through Routes 1 or 2.

For Route 3, the applicant must be able to show:

• a birth certificate issued after the time of birth (UK and Channel Islands)
• one document from Group 2a
• 3 further documents from Group 2a or 2b

At least one of the documents must show the applicant’s current address. If the applicant can’t provide these documents they may need to be fingerprinted.

The latest list of acceptable documents may be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-identity-checking-guidelines

Group 1: Primary identity documents

• Passport
• Biometric residence permit
• Current driving licence photocard – (full or provisional)
• Birth certificate – issued at time of birth
• Adoption certificate

Group 2a: Trusted government documents

• Current driving licence photocard – (full or provisional)
• Current driving licence (full or provisional) – paper version (if issued before 1998)
• Birth certificate – issued after time of birth
• Marriage/civil partnership certificate
• HM Forces ID card
• Firearms licence

Group 2b: Financial and social history documents

• Credit card statement
• Financial statement, eg pension or endowment
• P45 or P60 statement
• Council Tax statement
• Work permit or visa
• Letter of sponsorship from future employment provider
• Utility bill
• Benefit statement, eg Child Benefit, Pension
• Central or local government, government agency, or local council document giving entitlement, eg from the Department for Work and Pensions, the Employment Service, HMRC
• EU National ID card
• Cards carrying the PASS accreditation logo
• Letter from head teacher or college principal