What happens when your criminal record check arrives at the DBS

By Personnel Checks

16 May 2014

You may already be aware of the quick and efficient process we run here at Personnel Checks and if you’ve carried out DBS Checks before on for yourself or your employees, you may also know that the longest stage in the process can often be when the check is at the Disclosure & Barring Service, but why does it take so long? And what happens there?

By Personnel Checks.

The DBS processes around 4 million checks a year and each one of those needs to go through a thorough process before the applicant receives their certificate. This is the reason why it sometimes takes longer than expected. These stages make a DBS check accurate and secure which therefore makes your recruitment process a lot safer…

Step one: The DBS receive the application and validate.

Your application form is checked for errors or omissions. Within 24 hours of receipt the form is either scanned onto the DBS computer system or returned for correction to your countersignatory. (Personnel Checks)

Step two: The DBS searches the Police National Computer

A search is carried out on the whole national computer database to check your criminal record for any Cautions, Warnings, Reprimands or Convictions you may have.

Step three: Children & Adults barred lists search- (if applicable)

Your DBS Application will only undergo this process if you are applying for an enhanced criminal record check and your role involves working with children or vulnerable adults. This step checks whether you’re on the barred lists from working with children or vulnerable adults.

Step four: Records held by local police checked.

The length of time it takes to complete this step depends on your previous address history, as your application is sent off in secure and electronic means to local police forces to check their records. So the more precious addresses you have held, the longer this could take.

Step five: The applicants’ DBS certificate is printed and posted.

All the disclosed information will then be printed onto a certificate and posted to your home address

Types of check available:

Organisations can ask successful job applicants to apply for one of the following types of check depending on the job role:

Standard check - details of an individual’s convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings recorded on police central records and includes both ‘spent’ and ‘unspent’ convictions.

Enhanced check - the same details as a standard check, together with any information held locally by police forces that may be considered relevant to the post applied for.

Enhanced with a barred list check-

This is the same as the normal Enhanced check but also includes:

Searches the childrens barred list information is only available for those individuals engaged in regulated activity with children and a small number of posts as listed in the Police Act regulations, for example prospective adoptive parents

Searches the adult barred list is only available for those individuals engaged in regulated activity with adults and a small number of posts as listed in the Police Act regulations

child and adult barred list is only available for those individuals engaged in regulated activity with both vulnerable groups including children and a small number of posts as listed in the Police Act regulations

Adult first Check - an individual can be checked against the DBS adult barred list while waiting for the full criminal record check to be completed. This service is only available for the Care Industry working with adults. For more information either on the DBS process or which levels of check are available for you visit our website here or call one of our advisors on 01254 355688

Enjoyed this? Read more from Personnel Checks

Latest news

1

Meet the influencers who have generated £2m sales for one company Helen and Richard Chalu new

Meet the influencers who have generated £2m sales for one company

16 Oct 2025

2

WHN strengthens position in prestigious legal guide Daniel Long

WHN strengthens position in prestigious legal guide

16 Oct 2025

3

Warden appoints new commercial manager to strengthen project delivery and growth Peter Heskine

Warden appoints new commercial manager to strengthen project delivery and growth

16 Oct 2025

4

Stockley's finds its sweet spot Stockley's front view

Stockley's finds its sweet spot

15 Oct 2025

5

Breck to start £15m Blackpool affordable homes and retail development Cropper Road, Blackpool

Breck to start £15m Blackpool affordable homes and retail development

14 Oct 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 09 Jan 2026

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre

The Small Business Academy, Blackpool, FY4 5JX

09:30 - 15:30

HR Essentials for pubs, bars and licensed venues
EventBrite NORi - 22nd Oct Webinar.png.png
LBV Hub Webinar
22 Oct 2025 - 22 Oct 2025

HR Essentials for pubs, bars and licensed venues

Online - Teams, Leyland, PR253XH

13:30 - 15:00

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women
thumbnail_Emma Weston Illustration WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 18 Mar 2026

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:30 - 15:30

North West Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880456273-4862066883-1-original.20241022-105445.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
24 Oct 2025 - 24 Oct 2025

North West Business Expo 2025

Bolton Stadium Hotel, Bolton, BL6 6SF

09:00 - 15:00

Chamber Business Lunch – October
LBV Hub Networking
24 Oct 2025 - 24 Sep 2025

Chamber Business Lunch – October

Lancaster Golf Club, Lancaster, LA2 0AJ

11:00 - 13:30

Lancaster District Business Support Expo
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
29 Oct 2025 - 29 Oct 2025

Lancaster District Business Support Expo

The Platform, Morecambe, LA4 4DB

10:00 - 15:00

Chamber Breakfast Networking – November
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
06 Nov 2025 - 06 Nov 2025

Chamber Breakfast Networking – November

Porsche Centre South Lakes, Carnforth, LA6 1FW

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Police business update with The Police and Crime Commissioner
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Roundtables
10 Nov 2025 - 10 Nov 2025

Lancashire Police business update with The Police and Crime Commissioner

Lancaster Castle, Lancaster, LA1 1YN

14:00 - 16:00

AI, Creativity, and what it means to be human
2.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
11 Nov 2025 - 11 Nov 2025

AI, Creativity, and what it means to be human

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 20:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin