With the rising cost of higher education, it’s now commonplace for students to work in part-time or holiday jobs to help fund their studies. Bar work, retail or part-time office work is where you’ll find most office workers, and these positions rarely require a criminal records check. However, if you are a student who is considering taking part time work in healthcare, trying to get some work experience in a school, or even working as casual staff in the Royal Mail, you might need a DBS check.
DBS Checks to Start University
Some students may need a DBS check even before they become a student. Students on social work, education and healthcare courses spent time in hospitals and schools as part of their course, and universities will ask for a disclosure check as a condition of entry. Most often, this enhanced level of DBS check will be processed the summer before starting study, and if anything shows up on the DBS certificate which raises concerns about the student’s background, they won’t be able to start on the course. These enhanced disclosure certificates are not transferrable though, so if a student has, for example, had a DBS check done to start on a teacher training course but then wants to take a part-time position in a care home, they will have to go through the process of getting another DBS check done.
Special Rules for Students?
There are no special rules for students regarding DBS checks. Students will go through the same process and pay the same fees as anyone else in the same position. Similarly, there are no separate rules or processes for part-time work. Students complete their DBS application online in most cases, and then must show documents which prove who they are, and where they live. It is this final stage which causes issues.
Students, Addresses and Documents
The first issue which trips up students is the requirement to give an address history going back five years. If you’re living away from home in term time, then back to a parent’s address in summer, you must give all of the addresses and dates. Use a continuation sheet if there are too many addresses to fit onto the form. If you have more unusual circumstances, such as extended periods of travelling overseas perhaps on a gap year, then speak to the DBS helpline about how to handle this correctly on your form. If you get it wrong, then the DBS will reject your form, causing further delay and potentially further expense too.
The other issue which can affect students is the difficulty of providing the right documents, especially if you don’t have a passport or driving licence. Students in house-shares usually nominate just one person to be on the gas or electricity bill, and if your bank statements go to your parents’ address, you might have nothing tying you to the address where you say you are living. The best advice is to get your name onto the electoral roll at your term time address and try to make sure all housemates are listed on utility bills.
