Frequently Asked Questions
DBS Checks FAQs
A DBS check (Disclosure and Barring Service check) is a process used to review an individual’s criminal record to ensure they are suitable for certain roles, particularly those involving children, vulnerable adults, or sensitive environments.
DBS checks are typically required for individuals working in roles involving children, vulnerable adults, or sensitive positions, such as teachers, healthcare professionals, or care workers.
There are three main types of DBS checks:
- Basic DBS check: Shows unspent convictions and conditional cautions.
- Standard DBS check: Includes spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and warnings.
- Enhanced DBS check: Includes everything from a Standard check, plus any additional information held by local police that’s relevant to the role.
The time it takes to process a DBS check varies, but it usually takes between 1 and 14 days. Enhanced checks may take longer due to additional local police searches.
The cost is made up to two parts – the certificate charge and the administration charge. The certificate charge is a charge from the DBS for producing the search and certificate and varies dependant on the check type. The pricing recently changed on the 2nd December 2024 and is current set at:
- Basic DBS check – £21.50
- Standard DBS check – £21.50
- Enhanced DBS check – £49.50
- Volunteers – £0.00
The administration charge is charged per application, and this is charged by us directly to cover the work involved in creating and submitting a DBS check. The pricing is based on volume when you contact us to setup an account and depending on the type of DBS check required. Fees differ for Basic, Standard, and Enhanced checks, and there may be additional administrative charges.
You can only apply for a Basic DBS check yourself. Standard and Enhanced DBS checks must be applied for by an employer or organisation as ID verification cannot be done by the same person that the application is for.
DBS checks don’t have an official expiry date. Employers may have different safeguarding policies in place; however, many organisations renew them every 1-3 years.
The DBS Update Service allows individuals to keep their DBS certificates up to date and enables employers to check their status online. This requires an annual subscription fee which is payable by the applicant directly. Update service checks do not however provide up to date information with any pending investigations, as this information is only provided on new applications.
You’ll need to provide valid identification documents, such as a passport, driving licence, and proof of address, to verify your identity during the DBS check process. Full ID requirements and guidelines can be found here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-identity-checking-guidelines.
The level of check required depends on the role being applying for. Employers or organisations will decide the appropriate level based on the responsibilities of the position. Further information on qualifying roles can be found here: www.gov.uk/find-out-dbs-check.
A barred list check identifies whether an individual is barred from working with children, vulnerable adults, or both. This check is included as part of an Enhanced DBS check with barred lists.
If you believe there is an error on a DBS certificate, the candidate can contact the DBS to raise a certificate dispute. They will investigate and resolve any discrepancies.
While you can’t directly speed up the process, ensuring all information and documents are accurate and complete can help to avoid delays.
Social Media Checks FAQs
A social media check involves reviewing publicly available information from an individual’s social media profiles. This can include posts, images, comments, and other public content to assess their suitability for a role or organisation.
We check publicly available information from a range of popular social media platforms, such as Facebook, X, Instagram, Tumblr, Flickr and Medium.
When your account is setup, you receive a URL and code, this can be given to candidates to initiate the check. The candidate, once provided sign up details, will receive an email requesting consent. Once the consent is provided, the platform will ask the candidate to connect to their social media accounts – this is done using o-Auth (a common technology that allows platforms to connect without disclosing sensitive information such as passwords). Once connected, the platform will review all public posts and comments and produce a report.
No, we only check publicly available information. We do not access or review private accounts, posts, messages, or content that is restricted by privacy settings.
No, once the check is completed the access is terminated as the access is one time only per check request.
Once the check is complete, you have access to 3 files:
- The first is a certificate of the check, which is a 1-page pdf document with high level details such as the number of posts checked and the volume of flags – this is useful to place in an employee file.
- The second is a detailed report in pdf format. This will detail each account that was checked as well as the volumes of posts reviewed and number of flags. This will also show what flags were found and provide direct links to the posts, as well as timestamps of when the post was made.
- The 3rd is an interactive report – This shows everything the above report shows, however also includes images (if applicable) as well as a trend chart which showcases when, during the lifetime of the accounts, the flags occurred.
We respect your privacy and ensure that we only review information that is publicly accessible. All checks are conducted in compliance with UK GDPR, ensuring that personal data is handled responsibly.
The review focuses on publicly available content such as posts, comments, photos, and videos that could indicate any behaviours or attitudes relevant to the role or organisation. The algorithm used to locate potential adverse information is broken down into categories which also provides an efficient method of reviewing any flags:
- Hate Speech
- Extremist Groups
- Swearing
- Nudity
- Violence
- Toxic Language
- Weapons
- Firearms
- Drugs
Employers can gain insights into a candidate’s behaviour, professionalism, and character through their public social media activity. It can help identify red flags such as inappropriate or offensive content.
Yes, our platform is fully UK GDPR compliant. We only access and process publicly available information, ensuring full compliance with data protection laws.
Yes, the process is driven by the candidate, and they must provide explicit consent prior to submitting their accounts. A copy of the results is also sent to the candidate once the report is complete.
The duration of a social media check can vary, but it typically takes between 20 – 60 minutes to complete, depending on the complexity and volume of information available.
We adhere to ISO27001 standards to ensure the security and integrity of your data. All information is handled with the utmost care and in compliance with industry best practices.
A social media check provides additional context for employers, but it is not the sole basis for a hiring decision. Employers should typically consider a variety of factors.
Once the social media check is completed, a report is produced with any adverse flags. If you delete content after the check, it will not be included in future reviews.
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