This month uCheck welcomed a special visit from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and we relished the opportunity to chat with them about the work we do and the importance of our mutual relationship.
We felt especially privileged to be the first umbrella body to meet Eric Robinson, the organisation’s newly appointed CEO. He came along with Ian Johnston, the DBS’ Director for Operations, who has been in his role since 2014.
Eric has been in post since July and it was extremely useful to hear his ambitions for the future and the direction of travel for the DBS under his leadership.
We know that the DBS is committed to continuing its transformation while ensuring safeguarding remains at the heart of the organisation, and from speaking to Eric it was clear he shares this ethos.
This is a value shared by uCheck – we are committed to ensuring the background checking process is as easy as possible for users and that quality data is submitted, resulting in an extremely low error rate.
As well as showing our visitors around the office, we gave them a valuable insight into our revolutionary systems. Eric took a real interest in seeing exactly how our simple online platform works, and how we are able to ensure employers can request checks in just a matter of minutes.
Our uCheck app – launched in 2018 – was also well received, and we explained how clients were taking advantage of the ability to see the progress of their applications in as little as two clicks. This has proved to be a success, with over 3,000 log-ins in the first six months of the app’s launch.
We also had the opportunity to discuss uCheck’s road map – that is, our major objectives for achieving growth. This road map is based on client feedback and driven by our innovation.
Part of the road map which was discussed during the meeting is developing a ‘Complete uCheck app’, allowing clients to complete all stages of the process from within an intuitive mobile and tablet application.
Also on the road map is a new Criminal Record Rechecking reminder facility that will allow clients to receive email alerts when a certain number of months have passed since they completed a check. This will be hugely useful for clients to keep track of their employees’ checks and stop them from lapsing without realising.
The Client Support Team – which advise on a range of topics including DBS and Right to Work checks to name but a few – were also thanked specifically by Eric for managing such a high volume of calls and emails and providing a service that clients find genuinely helpful.
On average, the team takes 300 phone calls every day, and their assistance and expertise play a significant part in supporting the DBS’ own customer service line.
It wasn’t all about us though – the pair were happy to hear what clients had to say about the DBS and are keen for us to continue feeding back to them in order to help shape the direction of the organisation, something we will be sure to do.
Looking back, the visit certainly cemented our relationship, which has been going from strength to strength since we first worked together in 2002 when the organisation was known as the CRB.
The close working between the two parties has played a major role in making uCheck the largest umbrella body in the UK, supporting over 30,000 organisations with their background screening checks and processing more than 600,000 DBS checks per annum.
We truly value the support the DBS and its staff give to us when needed, especially through our dedicated account manager who proves a real asset. We like to think that Eric and Ian left feeling the same way about us – and hope that they will come for another visit in the not too distant future.
