What DBS Checks do uCheck offer for schools and other educational institutes?
uCheck offers Basic, Standard and Enhanced DBS Checks for schools, colleges, nurseries and universities. The Enhanced DBS check for working in schools and other educational organisations is the most frequently used in this industry.
Basic: Details any unspent convictions an applicant may have, which means it will highlight any recent or serious convictions.
Standard: Highlights any spent or unspent convictions an applicant may have, as well as any cautions, warnings or reprimands they may have received, so long as they are not protected. It does this through a comprehensive check of the Police National Computer (PNC).
Enhanced: An Enhanced DBS Check is what most education workers will require. This level of DBS checks is required when engaging in regulated activity with children. It will detail any spent or unspent convictions the applicant has, as well as any reprimands, warnings or cautions they’ve received. An Enhanced Check also provides the opportunity for the local police authority to disclose any additional information they have if they see it as being relevant. Checks against the children’s/adults’ barred list can also be included if appropriate.
DBS requirements in schools, colleges, nurseries and universities
As education workers are engaged in regulated activity with children on a regular basis, Ofsted requires that recruitment practices in schools, colleges and nurseries meet a certain standard of safety: Their recruitment procedure should help deter, identify or reject people who might pose a risk to children. A person will be engaging in regulated activity if they do any of the following as part of their role:
- Teach, train, instruct, care for or supervise children on a regular basis in a school or college.
- Carry out paid, or unsupervised unpaid, work regularly in a school, college or nursery where that work provides an opportunity for contact with children.
- Engage in intimate or personal care or overnight activity, even if this happens only once.
This also applies to contractors and volunteers, meaning an Enhanced DBS Check for schools, colleges and nurseries would be required.
Although DBS checks are not always a legal requirement for staff at universities, Basic DBS Checks can be beneficial for carrying out criminal record checks for your staff, helping to give you that extra level of reassurance.
Why are DBS Checks for schools, colleges, nurseries and universities important?
DBS Checks are a vital safeguarding tool that helps ensure the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. As it’s an offence to employ someone to work in a school or nursery who is on the children’s barred list, you’re able to prevent unsuitable candidates from joining your workforce and posing a risk to the children in your school, college, nursery or university.
The majority of staff working in schools, colleges or nurseries will require an Enhanced DBS Check, so making sure you follow Ofsted’s guidance keeps your organisation in line with the legal requirements.
How does the process work?
With uCheck, the process is simple. Pay for what you need, assign them to employees and get results in less than 48 hours!
Pay for the checks you need
With our easy-to-use online platform, you select the DBS check that you require and only pay for the amount you need. Add your employees to our online system and begin straight away.
Share with employees
You can share the application with your chosen employee/s for them to complete online and return. Share a link or send it via email — it’s simple!
Track the application
Track the entire application, from when your employee receives it to awaiting results from us. You can send prompts for your care workers to complete their applications and see a complete overview of all your DBS checks for care workers on our online hub.
24/48 hour turnarounds
Once the application has been submitted, our average turnaround time is 48 hours! Your applicant will have their certificate posted to them within 5-7 working days by the DBS, and you will get an e-result that shows if the check is clear or if you will need to wait to view the applicant’s certificate.
Join uCheck today
As the largest DBS Umbrella Body in the UK, trusted by over 30,000 clients with some of the major school trusts registered with us, and with a 92% ‘Excellent’ rating on Trustpilot, why not choose us for your employees’ Enhanced DBS Checks?
Check out our blog ‘DBS Checks In Education: The Ofsted Requirements Explained‘.