Aibu in thinking DBS is a stealth tax on the poor?

[Floogal]

I wouldn't say I'm poor as such, but recently had to update my DBS at £52. I've opted for renewal service. But this is for temporary jobs in care homes and schools etc. This is quite low paid. Just that the jobs which are poorly paid demand payment for this certificate (I understand about safeguarding) or else you can't work. A lot of money to pay upfront if the income isn't very good in first place.

It's certainly a cost of the job but then membership of professional bodies costs money too. I am surprised with the shortage of staff morre care companies aren't stumping up for renewal for committed staff.

I thought the annual renewal to update service costs £13?

I thought employers tended to pay for DBS checks? I've had 4 (I think) and have never paid for one.

I started working in care recently and my employer paid for the DBS which then gets paid back from my first couple of months payments. My DBS was £40 though so they’ve taken £20 each from my first two months of pay

@Camomila

I thought employers tended to pay for DBS checks? I've had 4 (I think) and have never paid for one.

That is what I thought too. Even when I volunteered, it was paid for.

It se

@Camomila

I thought employers tended to pay for DBS checks? I've had 4 (I think) and have never paid for one.

No, I work in the NHS and have had to pay for years now. Despite it being mandatory.

These are the current costs for a DBS so not sure what you’ve paid that much for (fingers crossed the image attaches)

My last 3 jobs have required DBS checks and I had a really detailed one recently. Never paid for them myself.

If it's something required for employment then I would expect the employer to pay, the same as I would expect them to pay for uniform or equipment.

It seems wrong you pay for your own, if it is a requirement of the job I would expect employer to cover the cost. They could claim back the tax.
My employer covers eyesight tests & flu jab

My employer had always paid.

No, I work in the NHS and have had to pay for years now. Despite it being mandatory

Is that a new thing? I never paid for DBS checks when I worked in the NHS.

I’m an employer in the care industry and have always paid for the Dbs for staff. Plus, employers can currently get Dbs checks done for free under a policy introduced to fast track applicants during the pandemic so not sure why they would be charging you to have the check completed. I would challenge this with your employers.

It’s not just poorly paid jobs though is it? Surgeons on £80k plus per year need them. If you need one you need one. It’s not your employer’s fault if you keep moving jobs and having to have a new check. Very unfair to call it a stealth tax. Stay in the same job if you think it’s so outrageous 🤷‍♀️

@Camomila

I thought employers tended to pay for DBS checks? I've had 4 (I think) and have never paid for one.

When I got a promotion recently, I had to pay for it.

I work in the NHS and mine have been paid for. When I worked at a doctors surgery (run by partners so not quite the same) the DBS check was also paid for.

I suppose if you're doing bank work it'a a bit different but if you're being employed by someone who requires it I think they should pay.

I'm not doing bank work and still have to pay for my own DBS. It's rubbish!

@Theworldisquiethere

These are the current costs for a DBS so not sure what you’ve paid that much for (fingers crossed the image attaches)

You usually have to pay an admin fee to the umbrella body carrying out the checks. Ours at work cost around £60. We pay for the first check then expect employees to pay the £13 a year for the update service.

I've never in my life paid for one, volunteering, nhs, girl guides, carer, gp surgery. They've all paid for it. Really strange to see it varies, especially within NHS you'd think it was either paid or not across the board.

As a regular teacher/volunteer the organisations have always paid. However, as a supply teacher registering with an agency, I had to pay for my own DBS (and I paid for the update service so I can keep it for years at relatively low cost!).

I agree. I work in childcare (minimum wage) and have always had to pay for them myself. That, and the zero hours contract, makes it a really rubbish choice of career.

Update service. Much much cheaper especially if you have several jobs checking every year.

Schools under the same local authority will often accept one from somewhere else in the authority that's been registered with the Update Service, as will NHS trusts (so if you were issued one from County Trust for working at County Hospital, it would also be accepted at Smaller County Hospital and County Clinics, for example).

For independent care homes and suchlike, I know it's different, but even then some will accept a check on the Update Service - the difficulty comes where you cross 'disciplines' - so need Adult Workforce, Child Workforce, Enhanced or Standard Disclosure, etc, as then they have no choice but to require a new check.

I wouldn't be happy about having to pay for one, tbh.