Paying for DBS update service

[LoisGriffinskitchen]

Please tell me if I am!

i work for the public sector. A Primary Care Network.
I have contact with people and so have to have an enhanced DBS.

No problem.

it’s just been renewed and the PCN want me to register with the update service but are asking us to pay for this.

It’s only £16 but surely if the PCN requires this for my job then they should pay!

I am tempted to refuse to sign up for the update service just on principle.

The reason I ask if I’m being unreasonable is because…well I know I can be at times. I’m autistic and I have ADHD. My impulsive brain can be a bit random at times. .

I am also nearly 60 and so over crappy employment stuff. The PCN does NHS work but I’m not paid by the NHS nor do I get any of the benefits.

On the point of heading to Indeed for other options!

I just pay it. Whether or not it should be funded by my work is more faff than I can be bothered with. I’ve never heard of an employer paying for the update service, only paying for a single check at the time of employment or when the previous one runs out. Whether or not they should do is another matter, but it’s just a lot of stress for very little gain I think. I tutor privately sometimes so want to be able to keep my dbs going regardless of being attached to an employer. But even without that, it’s just not a battle I could be bothered to fight.

I have to pay for the DBS Update Service for my work, and was advised this would be the case when I took up post. It’s because the only way to pay for it is to log into your own secure area of the DBS website, and pay with a debit/credit card. For your employer to do this, they would need your login details, which the DBS service say should not be shared with anyone as they allow you to update other personal information.

Same as previous poster, I just pay it. It is annoying, but I put it in the same mental category as other things that I wouldn't buy if I wasn't working - like appropriate shoes. When my work first required us to join the Update Service I thought the same as you OP, and was annoyed about paying.

Recently my work has changed policy; we are no longer required to be on the Update Service and instead they'll redo our enhanced DBS every two or three (?) years. A couple of colleagues have dropped their Update Service and just recently had their DBS redone - the faff that they've gone through is much worse than just sucking up the £16 once a year. So I'll be sticking with the Update Service, as at least I can use it for jobs elsewhere occasionally.

I'll be interested to hear other points of view though.

If you don't then your DBS will lapse and you will have to pay the whole cost, which is incentive enough to pay up!

I spend £60 a week commuting to work. Across the year that is a lot of money that I spend purely to do my job. I see my DBS update as being similar: an outgoing that allows me to make a living.

I need to be on update service because I work a lot of short term contracts.

I don't see why you need it if you only have one employment.

I only have one employed role, but it involves visiting schools and nursery settings, so I have to take my DBS with me to be checked every time I visit.

I’ve never heard of an employer paying for the update service. But I also work for an employer who pays for my enhanced adult and child DBS and always has. Some colleagues are on the update service as it’s easier at renewal time. The employer can log on and see straight away that it’s clear so you don’t have to complete a new application and find all of your documents each time.
When you move regularly it’s necessary but in stable long term employment it’s your choice.
If this is the reason you’re looking to leave then surely you’d need to sign up for your next role? Some DBS checks have taken months to come back and the update service avoids this. We’ve had to put staff on restricted duties with a risk assessment (no lone working etc) in the meantime which is really disruptive.