NHS staff - paying for dbs check

[hazelnutlatte]

I've just got a new job working for the NHS and I've been told I have to pay for my own DBS (criminal records) check and I also have to pay an extra £13 a year to keep it up to date. I know it's not a huge amount of money but it seems really stingy of them and makes me feel that they don't value their staff. Are there any other NHS workers who can tell me if this is the norm now? I've worked for 2 other NHS trusts in the past and 2 private sector organisations and have never been expected to pay for this myself before.

I haven't had to pay for mine before, but I have noticed it becoming more frequently mentioned on NHS jobs for posts at band 6 and above.

So annoying! I don't work for the NHS but I have to have a DBS check. I think it is really wrong to make employees pay for this - it should be the employer in my opinion! There's no rules though so it is stupid

It's £44 apparently and it's going to come out of my first pay packet. At least they're not charging for my uniform and name badge!
I've been working for a university for the past few years and the culture is so different from the NHS. I'm preparing myself for lots of pointless paperwork and jobsworths - hopefully it won't be as bad as I'm imagining!

Dont lose your badge. They will definitely charge you.

We had to pay it but then we got it back in our next paycheck.

Harsh - I've not heard of that before. I really hope you don't need enhanced clearance either, as there are some significant delays for that at the moment (although seems a bit hit and miss with some being processed quite quickly).

Yep, I paid for mine. Though they let me spread it over two pay packets

I have just started a 10 week work placement for the NHS unpaid. Some who are on the course needed DBS checks as they will be dealing with patients the NHS will recoup this when/if they are employed by the NHS from their first pay. The people on the course with DBS's pay the £13 annual fee IF they want their DBS to be transferable. Those of us who do not come into contact with patients do not get a DBS - previously everyone on the course got one. I think it's a cost saving exercise.

Yes I need an enhanced check, although a delay would actually suit me as I didn't want to go back to work until after my daughter starts school in September. They didn't mention any delays though, maybe it's not in my part of the country

Largely if you have ever lived or worked in London - delays of up to 4.5 months: www.gov.uk/government/news/dbs-check-delays-at-the-metropolitan-police

I rang the dbs about something else - there was a recorded message say it was taking 18 weeks for new checks to be completed

Check if your union has guidance on this. I'm a doctor and hospitals have started trying to charge - however our union states clearly it's the employers responsibility. I simply didn't sign the form allowing them to take it from my salary and it was paid for me. Others have had more issues (or decided it wasn't worth an argument so paid it themselves).

I worked in the NHS until recently and the Trust I worked for are about to bring this in too. Apparently it's becoming increasingly common.

That's a good idea to check with the union - however I'm with the spineless RCN and on their website it just suggests that 'most' public sector employees will have theirs paid for, but if you do need to pay you can claim the tax back.