DBS Checks

Who are CRB Direct and what DBS checks do we offer?

CRB Direct is a trading style of Clear Check Ltd (www.crbdirect.org.uk) and are a government approved registered body, offering a simple process when applying for your Basic, Standard or Enhanced DBS Check. We specialise in checking and processing applications and provide support throughout the process.

How To Apply

To obtain a Basic DBS check certificate, you simply need to fill out the short form and pay for your application online. The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) now accept digital identity checks to verify who you are and where you live. You will need to show proof of a digital ID check (which may cost money to receive) that was completed within three months of your application. The ID check must be carried out by a government approved IDSP to be valid when applying for a basic DBS check application.

For Standard and Enhanced DBS checks, the process is a somewhat different but not at all complicated. First, your employer must do the check for you and they will need to sign up for a Corporate Account. Once they have an account, they can access their own Corporate Cloud dashboard where they can apply, manage, track, and store all of their employees’ applications/certificates in a secure online environment.

What benefits does our service offer for DBS Checks?

Supporting document validation and file size reduction/cropping

Applicants living in Scotland

Disclosure Scotland’s website only accepts documents if the uploaded file size is less than 1Mb. This can cause problems for some applicants as image files generated by digital cameras, smart phones and digital scanners tend to exceed 1Mb in most cases. CRB Direct will allow you to upload documents with ANY file size and our helpful team will crop the files and reduce the file size so that they can be provided to Disclosure Scotland in the file size they require.

Application checking and support

Our team of friendly advisers will check your application thoroughly and contact you as and when further information is required. The aim of these checks is to ensure that when the application is submitted to DBS or Disclosure Scotland for processing, all of the information they require is provided as per the DBS guidance and in the format that they need it.

The main things that we check are:

Proof of ID – Proof of ID must contain name, date of birth and a photograph. We check to ensure a proof of ID has been provided and that the details match those on the application. If a different name shows on the proof of ID then we will contact the applicant to request a proof of name change.

Proof of address – The proof of address document must be a) addressed to the applicant and show the same name provided on the application. B) reflect the same address provided on the application. If either of these requirements are not satisfied then we will contact the applicant to explain the issue and request a different document.

5 Year address history - A full and complete five year address history is required by DBS & Disclosure Scotland. We will check that the information provided by the applicant does include a FULL 5 year address history and is in proper chronological order. In our experience, applicants who have been travelling extensively, based in another country temporarily or have been living in and out of student accommodation often require assistance with this requirement. -

Everything else! - That's right we don't stop until we are confident that everything is in order and the application contains everything the issuing body will need to process your application. Our aim is to reduce the need for the issuing body to raise further queries as much as possible. Common email address suffixes are checked, addresses are checked for spelling mistakes, town and country of birth is checked against supporting documents, and much more.

Overseas Applicants - Apply online and receive the certificate by Tracked Airmail

There is currently no facility for applying online via gov.uk for a Basic DBS check if you do not have a current address in the UK. We will verify overseas applicants in order to enable this to be possible. Applicants residing overseas can apply in the same way as a UK applicant on our website and have the option to receive both an online and a hard copy certificate in the post which will be sent by tracked airmail.

Disclosure Scotland will not accept online applications from applicants who are not currently residing in the UK. Whilst overseas applicants may still apply with Disclosure Scotland it must be by way of a paper form which can be requested here , Guidance on the Disclosure Scotland paper form can be found here.

CRB Direct will accept and process applications from overseas applicants so you don't need to wait for a paper form to arrive. Our address will be used for delivery of the certificate and we will then send it to the applicant by tracked airmail and offer the option to send a scanned copy to the applicant upon receipt if required.

Multiple applications for Businesses

In order to save businesses time and admin, our application form allows you to submit multiple applications and make only one payment and receive only one invoice for the payment.

Applicants in England and Wales

If applying with DBS or Disclosure Scotland, each application would need to be entered, submitted and paid for separately. Click "Add another Application" at the bottom of our application form to add multiple applicants prior to payment.

CRB Cloud

The CRB Cloud service is a unique optional service offered to customers of CRB Direct. If selected on the application form, the applicant will receive a unique login to a secure online portal where they may upload a digital copy of their Basic DBS Check certificate so that it can be accessed at any time from anywhere. If you re-apply with CRB Direct after you sign up to CRB Premium Cloud, subsequent applications for the same applicant submitted within 12 months will be upgraded to fast-track at no extra cost and the first subsequent application submitted after 12 months from the initial application will be free of charge. If the membership is cancelled after 12 calendar months, the option to re-apply free of charge will expire 3 months from the date of cancellation.

SMS Message Alerts

Our SMS messaging service allows you to stay up to date with the progress of your application from start to finish. You will receive alerts if we need to contact you for any reason regarding your application, as well as letting you know when your application has been completed.

Useful Resources:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/basic-dbs-checks-guidance

https://www.gov.uk/dbs-check-applicant-criminal-record

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/track-a-dbs-application

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/digital-and-online-services

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dbs-checking-service-guidance--2

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dbs-eligibility-guidance

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/barring-referrals

https://www.gov.uk/report-problem-criminal-record-certificate

https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-how-dbs-is-supporting-the-fight-against-coronavirus

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/disclosure-and-barring-service

https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

https://gov.uk/dbs

Our Service Options:

Standard Service
The Standard service includes; application checking, supporting document validation, email updates and timely submission to the issuing body.

Fast Track Service (additional fee applies)
This is a premium service where you will receive all of the benefits of the Standard application however Fast Track applications will be prioritised and checked, processed and submitted within 1 working day where possible*. Please note that DBS & Disclosure Scotland do not offer a fast track service which would result in the expedited provision of a Basic DBS Check certificate. The fast track option offered by CRB Direct refers to prioritised processing of your Basic DBS Check application. Your application becomes our priority.

*Subject to Supporting documents and all other required information being received.

What is the process?

STEPS:
1. Apply online
2. Make payment
3. Submit your verified supporting documents
4. Receive your Basic DBS Check within 7-14 days

Once you have submitted your application for a Basic DBS, a member of our processing team will thoroughly check the information provided and contact you if any further information or supporting documents are required.

You will receive an email from us confirming your application reference number which you can use to communicate with the issuing body should you need to for any reason.

You should expect to receive your certificate within 7 to 14 days. You will be contacted if supporting documents are required to process your application.

Pricing

Individuals applying for a DBS Check:

Organisations with a registered account:

(Annual corporate account fee: £37.50 +VAT)

*Overseas applicants will incur an air mail surcharge of £16 (inc. VAT)

crbdirect.org.uk is a trading style of Clear Check Ltd. Clear Check Ltd are officially approved as a Responsible Organisation to process DBS checks with the Disclosure and Barring Service.