Basic DBS Checks

If you are self employed, the only level of check you can obtain on yourself is a Basic-level check. Anybody may request a basic level disclosure on themselves, and this can be done directly with the DBS or Disclosure Scotland if living in Scotland. You can read more on our Basic Disclosure page.

If you are intending to work or volunteer in certain roles, you may require a Standard or Enhanced level check. Under current legislation, self-employed individuals cannot get a check on themselves. In this situation, the self-employed individual would need to allow a 3rd party, such as a professional association, to request a check. If the returned Disclosure contains information that indicates you are unsuitable for the role, the professional association would make this decision.

Under the current Legislation an individual or self-employed person can not obtain an Enhanced or Standard DBS check upon themselves. Anybody can request a Basic-level Check on themselves, via DDC, the DBS or Disclosure Scotland if living in Scotland. For higher level Disclosures there must always be a third party who is either offering a role that is exempted from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974) or is willing to endorse the subject working in a qualifying role. Further, that 3rd party must have the sanction of denying the role to the subject of the Disclosure, or refusing to endorse their working in that role, if they do not consider it to be satisfactory.

This includes companies where the subject of the check is also the proprietor of the organisation. If there are co-owners who are not related you can request checks upon each other.

If you have been asked for a DBS check, you can ask the requesting organisation to contact DDC and they may be able to administer the checks directly with us.

The e-Bulk system can be used to apply for Standard and Enhanced DBS checks. Basic level disclosure applications for the DBS, and Level One Basic applications for Disclosure Scotland, are individually submitted electronically via a web service. Scottish Level Two and PVG applications are completed on the Disclosure Scotland portal, once identity verification steps have been completed using DDC’s portal.

Guidance for Organisations

If you are an organisation requesting multiple basic checks for recruitment purposes, or you wish to outsource the process, then DDC Ltd can provide an easy to use online portal to assist in requesting and assessing Basic disclosures for employment or recruitment.

Our online application service for Basic Disclosures allows organisations to carry out all ID checks with no need to send or post documents to a third-party. Results are submitted and obtained electronically, with many additional services in the management and reporting of results. Identity checks can be carried out using Digital Identity. This service works seamlessly with our other services to offer a robust candidate screening system.

Please contact our team on 0116 260 3055 or 0845 644 3298 to discuss how DDC Ltd can assist you in obtaining Basic Disclosure checks for your employees.

Guidance for Individuals

Individuals over the age of 16 wanting to access their own record, can apply directly for Basic Disclosure.

Individuals living and working in England and Wales can apply directly through the DBS, on the Welcome to GOV.UK website.

Individuals living and working in Scotland can apply directly through Disclosure Scotland, on the Apply for basic disclosure on the Disclosure Scotland website.

Individuals living and working in Northern Ireland can apply directly with Access NI.

How to apply for a basic check

To apply for a Basic Disclosure you are required to provide:

• your address history from the last 5 years (including the dates you lived at each address);
• supporting ID documents that meet with the authority requirements;
• at least one of these must be a ‘Primary Trusted Document’: passport, photocard driving licence (full or provisional), birth certificate
• additional documents that confirm your current address: bank or financial statements, utility bills, documents issued by a government department or local authority.
• National Insurance number (if applicable)

If you are applying through Disclosure Scotland you will need to provide your mother’s maiden name, and the employer’s details (if the disclosure certificate is to be sent there).

You can view further guidance on accepted documents here.

Whether or not these documents need to be sent directly to the issuing authority or to a third party for verification will depend on the process chosen.

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