Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

 

Online Disclosure and Barring Service Application

If you are considering working as a locum, whether that be full or part time, there are a few things you need to have in order to ensure you are not falling foul of any rules and regulations:

• Have indemnity insurance (most popular choice is the AOP)
• Have a DBS clearance certificate (your previous check is no longer valid once you leave employment)
• Register with locum agencies for locum bookings (Locumkit also acts as an agency but do not act as a middleman)
• Register with HMRC as a self-employed (Locumkit can help you with this – for more info click here)

Disclosure and barring services (DBS), previously known as Criminal records Bureau (CRB) are in place to prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable groups, including children. As Optometrists/Opticians you will likely encounter patients from vulnerable groups on a daily basis. Therefore you are required to have an enhanced criminal record check completed.

An enhanced DBS check is the highest level of check available. Most roles within the healthcare industry require an enhanced DBS. At this level they will check cautions, warnings, reprimands, and convictions, as well as checking if the candidate is barred from working with children or vulnerable adults. It is a criminal offence for an Optometrist or Optician to work with these vulnerable groups if they are on the barred list.

Locumkit can help you obtain your DBS clearance from as little as £35.

*The above fee does not include the Post Office fee for your documentation review

 

Note:

For members who reside in Scotland, you will likely need to join the PVG scheme. For more information on the PVG Scheme please click here.

For members who reside in Northern Ireland you require an AccessNI Check.

 

Applying for an Enhanced DBS check with Locumkit couldn’t be easier. Just follow the simple steps below.

If you have any questions or would like some more information give us a call on 07452 998 238 or drop us an email on [email protected]

 

Step 1 

Email us on [email protected] asking for your unique username and a link to start your Enhanced DBS application.

 

Step 2

You will be sent a link with a username, clink on this link to create a password

You will need to have the following information to apply:

• Full name history
• Five-year address history with postcodes, including any foreign addresses
• National Insurance number (if you have one)
• Passport details (if you have one)
• UK driving licence details, full or provisional (if they have one)

Once you have provided all the relevant information you will be asked to submit your application. At this point you will receive a reference number and we at Locumkit will also get confirmation of submission of your form.

 

Step 3:

Part of the DBS requirement is ID verification

 

The government require document verification to be conducted face to face. Therefore the best option we have found for our users is to go and visit the Post Office.

We advise you to make photocopies of your documents and take them to the post office, along with the original documents for verification.

You will need 3 ID documents to apply for your DBS check (see below a list of eligible documents). Most commonly used ID documents are passports, driving licences and bank statements. At least one of your documents will need to be for your current address. To find the closest post office to you that offers this service please click here.

The post office will verify the originals against your persons and countersign on the photocopies to state:

“I [Name] verify this is a true likeness of [Name] “ – Signed and dated.

You will also need to obtain a verification form from them. The Post office will charge you £12.50 for this service.

Note: Due to the COVID-19 situation, the government has relaxed these rules and we can verify your documentation via a video call.

 

You must be able to show:

One document from Group 1, below

Two further documents from either Group 1, or Group 2a or 2b, below

At least one of the documents must show your current address.

Group 1: Primary identity documents

Document	Notes
Passport	Any current and valid passport
Biometric residence permit	UK
Current driving licence photocard - (full or provisional)	UK, Isle of Man, Channel Islands and EEA. The paper counterpart to the photocard driving licence will not be valid and are longer be issued by DVLA
Birth certificate - issued within 12 months of birth	UK, Isle of Man and Channel Islands - including those issued by UK authorities overseas, for example embassies, High Commissions and HM Forces
Adoption certificate	UK and Channel Islands

 

Group 2a: Trusted government documents

Document	Notes
Current driving licence photocard - (full or provisional)	All countries outside the EEA (excluding Isle of Man and Channel Islands)
Current driving licence (full or provisional) - paper version (if issued before 1998)	UK, Isle of Man, Channel Islands and EEA
Birth certificate - issued after time of birth	UK, Isle of Man and Channel Islands
Marriage/civil partnership certificate	UK and Channel Islands
Immigration document, visa or work permit	Issued by a country outside the EEA. Valid only for roles whereby the applicant is living and working outside of the UK. Visa/permit must relate to the non EEA country in which the role is based
HM Forces ID card	UK
Firearms licence	UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man

 

Group 2b: Financial and social history documents

Document	Notes	Issue date and validity
Mortgage statement	UK or EEA	Issued within the last 12 months
Bank or building society statement	UK and Channel Islands or EEA	Issued within the last 3 months
Bank or building society statement	Countries outside the EEA
Bank or building society account opening confirmation letter	UK	Issued in last 3 months
Credit card statement	UK or EEA	Issued within the last 3 months
Financial statement, for example pension or endowment	UK	Issued in last 12 months
P45 or P60 statement	UK and Channel Islands	Issued within the last 12 months
Council Tax statement	UK and Channel Islands	Issued within the last 12 months
Letter of sponsorship from future employment provider	Non-UK or non-EEA only - valid only for applicants residing outside of the UK at time of application	Must still be valid
Utility bill	UK - not mobile telephone bill	Issued within the last 3 months
Benefit statement, for example Child Benefit, Pension	UK	Issued in last 3 months
Central or local government, government agency, or local council document giving entitlement, for example from the Department for Work and Pensions, the Employment Service, HMRC	UK and Channel Islands	Issued in last 3 months
EEA National ID card		Must still be valid
Irish Passport Card	Cannot be used with an Irish passport	Must still be valid
Cards carrying the PASS accreditation logo	UK, Isle of Man and Channel Islands	Must still be valid
Letter from head teacher or college principal	UK - for 16 to 19 year olds in full time education - only used in exceptional circumstances if other documents cannot be provided	Must still be valid

 

Step 4

Please send us the photocopies where the post office have signed and verified your documentations.

 

Step 5

Please process your payment of £60 for us to proceed with your application.

Note: This is reduced to £35 for certain members. Contact us to find out if you are eligible for this discount.

 

Step 6:

If all the necessary forms and paperwork have been correctly filled out and supplied, we will submit this to DBS and will keep you updated on the progress of your application.

 

Step 7:

Once completed, you will receive an e-copy of the certificate and the original will be sent to you to your home address.

 

Step 8:

We advise that you register your certificate with the DBS update service.

This is a yearly subscription service which ensures that your DBS check is kept up to date. By registering for the update service you can save yourself the cost of applying for a new DBS check each time you decide to work for a new company or agency. The update service costs £13 a year and can be applied for by clicking here. You will need to register your certificate within 19 days of receipt.

It is also important that you keep your bank details up to date with the update service. Any issue with payment details will result in you being taken of the update service and you may not be necessarily notified of this.

 

FAQs

Q: Why do I need to get my documents verified?

A: The DBS check is the highest criminal records check in place and guidelines are very strict. Candidates who are cleared will be allowed to work with vulnerable groups and as such we need to ensure all documents are legitimate to eliminate fraud.

Q: How long does my certificate take?

A: DBS state it can take up to 6 weeks to receive your certificate, however, the majority of certificates return within 2 weeks. In certain circumstances it could taken longer than 6 weeks. Typically the longest part of the process is the police records search and this can vary by area.

Q: When should I repeat a DBS check?

A: According to gov.uk there is no official expiry date for a DBS check. Any information on the check will be up to date at the time the check was carried out however it is up to individual companies to decide when a new DBS check is needed.

 

If you have any questions about getting your DBS check, get in touch with our admin team who will be happy to assist you through this process.