An Enhanced DBS as a Nanny or Governess, discover all you need to know.

What is a DBS Disclosure?

The DBS Disclosure is a certificate which shows whether or not the Certificate holder has a criminal record. The Certificate is issued by the Disclosure and Barring Service which is a Home Office Agency dedicated solely to checking criminal records. This has replaced the former checking service known as the CRB (Criminal Records Bureau).

As part of our screening and background checks, and to give our Clients peace of mind, we ask that all Candidates apply for the Enhanced DBS Check.  

There are two levels of checks, Standard and Enhanced. All of our candidates are required to apply for the highest level as they will be working with children.

What is the difference between the Standard DBS and the Enhanced DBS Check?

The Standard DBS check will contain details of all spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings from the Police National Computer (PNC)
The Enhanced DBS check will include any information from the PNC and may also contain:

1) Information held by local police forces.

2) Confirmation if they are on the list of people barred from working with children as listed by the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA).

Which DBS do I have to apply for?

As you will be working in a childcare role, the Enhanced Level with barred lists check is the correct level for your chosen career.

How long do enhanced DBS checks take?

A DBS check can take from 2 weeks and sometimes up to 4 weeks. You will receive a copy of the DBS Certificate at your home address stated on the application form. Depending where you are in your job search, please keep the DBS Certificate safely once it arrives. If you have already found a new job, please show it to your new employer.

Do also contact your dedicated Consultant to confirm its receipt and she will update your files.

How long does the Enhanced DBS last?

The DBS Disclosure gives information held on the police database up to and including the date the Disclosure was issued. For this reason we are recommending to our candidates that they subscribe to the Update Service for £18 (£13 per annum plus £5.00 Admin Fee) so that they can give any potential employer up-to-date information at all times.

How do I subscribe to The Update Service?

When applying for the DBS, we highly recommend opting for The Update Service which saves time and money. By doing so, this ensures the candidate’s DBS Status is constantly up to date.

We would recommend all candidates opt for this as once the initial application is processed, the candidate’s status is always up-to-date.

How much does an Enhanced DBS cost?

The cost for processing this through our agency is £53.00 as we have a direct link to an agency who process applications day in, day out and are very efficient. You can of course apply directly to the government website for a fee of £40.00 if you prefer but not sure how long the application will take. Our preferred Agency are speedy with some Enhanced DBS Checks taking just 2 weeks!

How do I apply for for the Enhanced DBS? 

For us to commence your application, we will require your basic details:

Your title, first name, middle name(s), family name, date of birth, email address and a mobile or landline number.

Once we have entered the above details to the DBS on-line portal, you will receive a secure link that will ask you for documentation to support your application.

If a Candidate is not from the UK, can you access the correct information?

We are able to obtain information pertaining to overseas police records held on official databases for candidates who have worked overseas or who are from an overseas country.

What information will I need for the online application?

Once you have completed and submitted your application to the DBS on-line portal, we will be asked for verification to double check all correct. This ensures no errors made and reduces any delays. Once submitted by us, you will receive a further email including a payment link. The fee is £53.00 and can be paid by Worldpay or PayPal.

Your DBS will be sent directly to you as the applicant and a copy should be sent to your Consultant either by email or What’s App for ease. We will update your records and clients with whom you are interviewing.

What documents are accepted?

We accept photo ID in the form of either a Passport or Driving Licence which will satisfy the DBS when locating your records. If your Passport has expired and you don’t have a Driving Licence, we will accept:

One document from Group 2a and two documents from Group 2b

Group 2a Trusted Government / State Issued Documents

• Birth Certificate (UK & Channel Islands) – issued within 12 months of date of birth
• Certified copy of Birth Certificate (UK and Channel Islands) – issued after 12 months of date of birth
• Marriage/Civil Partnership Certificate
• Current UK Driving Licence (old style paper version)

Group 2b – Financial /Social History Documents

• P45/P60 Statement (UK & Channel Islands) dated within 12 months
• Bank or building Society Statement (UK or EEA) dated within 3 months
• Utility Bill (UK) – electricity/gas/water or landline telephone dated within 3 months
• Credit card statement (UK) dated within 3 months
• Mortgage statement dated within 12 months
• Certificate of British Nationality (UK)
• Council Tax Statement (UK & Channel Islands) dated within 12 months
  EU National ID Card
• Work Permit/Visa (UK) (UK Residence Permit) must be valid

If you have any queries regarding the above, do please telephone us on 020 7795 6299 or ping us an email at [email protected] so that we can assist you.

We look forward to welcoming you to Imperial Nannies!