Volunteers often wonder if they need a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, given that they are not being paid for any work which they do. A DBS check helps employers make safer recruitment decisions by preventing unsuitable people from working with vulnerable groups such as children and those with disabilities. DBS checks replaced the former Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks, but you’ll still see both terms used.
Who is Eligible for a DBS Check?
Eligibility for a DBS check is determined by the nature of your role and the defining factor is the type of work not whether you are being paid for that work or not. The are three different types of DBS checks for volunteers:
- Basic DBS Check: Available to anyone for any purpose, not job specific.
- Standard DBS Check: Typically required for roles involving a higher degree of trust but not necessarily regular contact with vulnerable groups, such as certain positions in finance, law, and security. Contains more information than a basic check.
- Enhanced DBS Check: Required for positions involving close, unsupervised contact with children and vulnerable adults, such as teachers, social workers, and healthcare professionals. Contains more detailed information than both basic and standard checks
Free DBS Checks for Volunteers
People who are working as volunteers in a role which requires a DBS check generally do not pay for their DBS checks. There are however some exceptions to this, such as people who are on an unpaid placement as part of a college course, trainees who are expected to take on a full-time role in the future, or people who are receiving any sort of payment other than basic expenses. Usually though it will be very clear whether the role is voluntary or not. If a role is classed as employment not volunteering, you may still find that the employer covers the cost.
Process for Getting a Volunteer DBS Check
There is no separate application route for unpaid workers and the organisation you are volunteering with will help guide you through the process. You will first complete the form giving all of your personal details such as name, address and date of birth, and then will provide a range of documents to verify your identity. All documents such as passports, driving licences or utility bills must be original, show your current address, and include your date of birth. Non-English documents must be translated by a certified UK service.
How Long Will I Wait for a DBS Check?
Processing times can vary. The organisation you are hoping to work for are probably the best people to tell you how long checks are currently taking, and whether you can start volunteering while waiting for a check to come back. As a general indication, a Basic DBS check takes between a couple of days and two weeks, and an enhanced check can take up to four weeks. If you have a complicated address history or have lived overseas, then you might find yourself waiting a bit longer for your certificate to arrive.
