One of the major frustrations in getting a DBS check ever since the system was introduced is the delays which sometimes occur when processing the checks. The number of people awaiting DBS checks processed by Sussex Police has risen dramatically in recent months, mirroring the situation in many other parts of England and Wales. Figures from the BBC reveal that in October, 12,072 people were waiting for their enhanced DBS checks to be processed by the force, up from 10,633 outstanding applications reported in September. Sussex Police has stated that the delays are due to increased demand and high staff turnover, though they are recruiting and training new case workers to address the backlog.
Impact of DBS Processing Delays
One case study given featured a jobseeker from the south coast, who applied for a DBS check in August after accepting a new job at a care home. Work in care homes, involving dealing with elderly and potential vulnerable people, requires an enhanced DBS check. The jobseeker’s employer required these checks to be completed before employment starts. He gave notice at his previous job, expecting to start work in October, but was still waiting for his DBS certificate in early November, and had been forced to take a temporary job to make ends meet financially while waiting for his certificate to arrive in the post.
What is Causing Delays?
Although the overall DBS system is managed centrally for all of England and Wales, the delays often occur at the stage where the applications are sent to the various police services across the countries for record checking. Although the DBS has targets for performance, indicating a maximum time in which checks should be completed, these are often missed. DBS applications are not steady through the years, with peaks at certain times of year. If you apply at a peak period, the increased volume, coupled with staff shortages, can cause delay. Sussex Police says it has hired additional case workers, expected to improve application processing times once fully trained.
Get Your DBS Check Processed Quickly
The government’s Disclosure and Barring Service noted that the national average processing time for enhanced applications in October was 11.4 days. It is supporting Sussex Police with funding for more staff, funding overtime during training, and sharing workloads with other forces. However, delay is an ongoing issue and there are several things you can do to maximise your chances of getting your certificate back quickly.
If you are entitled to sign up for DBS Update, then being subscribed to the service can allow you to access your DBS information right away. However, you can only join Update at the time you initially apply or shortly after, so it may not apply in all cases. Take care when completing the form, as sometimes the delays can be caused by incorrect or incomplete information, usually concerning someone not giving their complete address history or previous names. It’s always worth having your form checked before hitting that submit button to ensure there’s nothing you have missed.
