Your complete guide to the DBS

What is the DBS check?

The DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check, is a process used to assess an individual's criminal record history and provide relevant information to employers and organisations involved in recruitment. This check ensures that those working with vulnerable groups, like children, are suitable and pose no risk to the people they interact with.

What is an enhanced DBS check?

The enhanced DBS check includes convictions, additional police intelligence and other relevant information held by the local police forces that may not be disclosed in the standard check. This intelligence can consist of ongoing investigations, allegations, and other relevant data to assist employers in making informed decisions.

Who requires an enhanced DBS Check?

Enhanced DBS checks are typically required for positions like teachers and healthcare professionals. This comprehensive check ensures that those who pose a risk to vulnerable individuals are appropriately identified and prevented from engaging in such roles.

What is right to work?

You’ll need to prove your right to work in the UK to your employer before you start working for them.

How you do this depends on your nationality and what kind of permission you have to work in the UK.

Right to work check

UK and Irish nationals can use a current and valid British or Irish passport, or an Irish passport card. If you do not have these, you can also use your birth certificate (UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, or Ireland), shown alongside evidence of your National Insurance Number from the government or previous employer.

Non-UK or Irish nationals can use an online share code. Please note we cannot accept BRP (Biometric Residence Permit) cards.

Find out more on the Government's website

DBS and Right to Work Guidance

DBS check

As a tutor with us, you must have a physical copy of an enhanced DBS certificate; we will order one for you if your interview is successful, and you do not already have one. It is a legal requirement that all our tutors have an enhanced DBS check on the update service. It is an offence to apply for a role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.

As soon as possible after receiving your interview success email, please make sure that you’ve sent the following documents to the team:

• Original copies of your GCSE English and GCSE Maths certificates. If you have applied to be a science tutor, please also provide original copies of your GCSE Science certificate(s). If you need a replacement certificate, you can order a replacement.
• Two identification documents (e.g., your passport, driving licence, or biometric residence permit)
• One right-to-work document; this can be the same document as one of the above
• One proof of address document

You also need to be eligible to work in the UK and able to prove this with documentation, commonly with a UK passport or an eVisa.

Verifying your documents

We can verify your Right to Work in the UK in person or digitally, using a government-certified Identity Service Provider. If you are not a national of the UK, your Right to Work can also be proved through an online share code check.

When verifying your identification, we require a minimum of three original, current and valid documents

What does this mean at the Tutor Trust?

If you are successful at interview the process for securing a DBS is as follows:

• As a tutor with us, you must have a physical copy of an enhanced DBS certificate
• Once your DBS has been issued, you’ll need to register for the Update Service. This allows you to keep your DBS certificate up-to-date online for employers to check.
• The certificate costs £16. To start your DBS process, you need to send some documents, but more information will be sent in your Interview Successful email.
• You will need to renew this annually through the DBS Update Service
• If you lose your certificate before the end of the three-year period it covers, you will need to replace the certificate at your own expense

Further information on this can be found on the Government website here:

Variations to the DBS

Sensitive applications route

The sensitive applications route gives transgender applicants the choice not to have any gender or name information disclosed on their DBS certificate, which could reveal their previous gender identity. If you are transgender and do not wish this to be disclosed to your employer and/or on your DBS certificate, you should contact the dedicated sensitive applications team at the UK Government. You can read more on their website.

To contact the sensitive applications team, please telephone 0300 131 2784 or email the service.

Applicants who have been adopted

If you were adopted before the age of 10, you do not need to provide your surname at birth in section A of the DBS application form, and should instead give your adoptive name in this section.

If you were adopted after the age of 10, please put your surname at birth in the application. This is because the age of criminal responsibility is deemed to be 10 years, under the Children and Young Persons Act 1933.

International students

Tutors who have resided in a country outside of the UK for a consecutive period of 6 months or more within the last 5 years are required to have an overseas police check completed. You can find out more information and how to begin the process on the UK Government's criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

In summary, an overseas police check is a criminal record check from another country, used to verify an individual's criminal history in a foreign nation. It's often required for employment in certain sectors, visa applications, or when individuals have lived abroad. The process and specific documents required can vary by country.  Our team will be in touch if you need to complete one of these.