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Original poster

How long for enhanced DBS?

117 replies

Dottydoodoo · 14/06/2022 21:10

Has anyone had an enhanced DBS recently, and if so how long did it take? It was only received by them five days ago so I’m probably being impatient, however my friend who has got the exact same job just got hers back after three days!

I have been googling (I know!) and am reading stories of people waiting 6-8 weeks plus! If anyone can reassure me of recent quick turnaround times I would be very grateful! I have dreamt of this job for a long time and am keen to get started!

thank you 😊

OP posts:
CoffeeWithCheese · 25/07/2022 12:40

Cookies436 · 21/07/2022 22:50

My dbs was submitted 11th July, stage 1-3 completed that day. Been in progress with police on stage 4 since 13th. I am in Derbyshire what areas are you guys from for the police force as I’m hearing horror stories of months and months wait for a dbs. I’m worried to put my notice in for a job starting September without my dbs check back.

I'm in Nottinghamshire and had one turned around in under a week earlier this month... my job is still stalled at the tender hands of occupational health...

Cookies436 · 25/07/2022 15:20

I’ve just checked and stage 4 completed today. I’d checked a hour before and it was in progress. My brothers dbs that has gone to more than one police force and has been on stage 4 since 22/6/22 is still pending

Reelin · 29/07/2022 07:54

O well another week down and still no movement! Hope everyone else's is completed?

WhyNott · 29/07/2022 10:22

I'm up to 8 weeks of waiting now @Reelin don't know what the hell is going on. I'm in the North West so we can't say it's our area!

Reelin · 29/07/2022 10:57

@WhyNott that is crazy! I had hoped you may have had progress, I dont know whether to laugh or cry!!?
Just seems like it's never going to happen.

Jem1985 · 02/08/2022 21:14

Im on week 3 from yesterday and im also on update service.

Reelin · 03/08/2022 23:10

Yep nearly another week down with no movement, more staff needed to clear backlog in certain areas of the country!

WhyNott · 05/08/2022 18:08

Recieved notification that mine had been completed yesterday although I'm still waiting for the certificate, I think it has ended up being a 9 week wait. I hope everyone else has theirs soon, I did think it was never going to happen!

Jem1985 · 05/08/2022 18:18

Can i ask how you were notified it was complete ? Thanks

WhyNott · 05/08/2022 21:45

Head office at work emailed me and my line manager.

Reelin · 06/08/2022 07:41

Aah finally that's a relief, I am a couple of weeks behind you so not holding my breath! As you say it feels like it isnt going to happen.
Glad to hear the long awaited good news!

WhyNott · 06/08/2022 18:23

Such a relief @Reelin! I really hope it's not long for you, please update when it does come through 😁.

Reelin · 13/08/2022 10:20

Good morning folks, just an update to say I have now received my dbs through the post this morning and have it in my hand now!!!! 7 weeks to the day, what a relief 😊😊.
Hope anyone waiting gets theirs soon, worth £13 to sign up to the update service to avoid this wait again.

Seasidemumma77 · 13/08/2022 10:36

4 working days, came through on Thursday. My previous one expired 3yrs ago, haven't moved or changed name, so went through quickly

Jac85 · 13/08/2022 13:46

Im on update service , but school i got job in September wont accept update service. Im on week 5 on Monday. North west England

Reelin · 13/08/2022 15:25

@Jac85 that is very frustrating! I have to say I was starting to believe it was never going to come through or had got lost in the system. It was a long 7 weeks with nothing complicated my background to check, same town etc.
Hope yours comes through in time x

Suzi888 · 13/08/2022 15:27

Mine took about 2 weeks. DH about 3 I believe.

Reelin · 13/08/2022 15:36

@Suzi888 that is pretty good considering some of the waits I have heard recently, it was not knowing that was stressing me out!

Suzi888 · 13/08/2022 15:44

@Reelin hmm could it be summer hols? More people off perhaps.

Reelin · 13/08/2022 16:04

Yes probably alot of people starting jobs in schools in September aswell, so could be added work load while less staff as on holiday, everyone needs time off!🌞

Jac85 · 13/08/2022 17:38

I find it frustrating that some schools dont accept update service , therefore people who are on it are waiting longer periods , surely its the whole point of having/being on the update service ?

Reelin · 14/08/2022 09:01

Totally agree with you, it should be accepted anywhere as that was the whole point of it! Surely it's common sense and more cost and time effective to do so??

Moaningturtle1 · 16/08/2022 15:15

Can I join in the stressed out waiting?!

Due to start in a school on the 31st Aug, previous DBS although enhanced doesn’t include the children searches so not acceptable.

Submitted 8/7
Stage 2 18/7
Stage 3 19/7
Stage 4 in progress since the 20/7

six weeks this Friday and I’m getting very twitchy and stressed. It’s an unsupervised role so I won’t be cleared to start until I’ve physically shown them the certificate. I think 90 days would cost me the job to be honest. My last day in my current job is next Tuesday 😩

Refreshing the DBS page every 10 minutes and driving myself mad.

ancientgran · 16/08/2022 15:19

GS just got his back, took exactly a week. I was surprised as I used to be a signatory and some would take ages at this time of year due to schools recruiting.

ancientgran · 16/08/2022 15:29

Cookies436 · 23/07/2022 13:13

I’ve never lived overseas. It’s crazy how each police force varies. I’ve emailed my local police force to ask their current turn around time for dbs. It maybe worth others doing this the man at dbs told me to do this

I had someone waiting to start work and their application had been hanging around for 4 months, you couldn't track online back then but I phoned up and found out it had been sat with the same police force for 3 months.

My previous career was with the police so Iknew where it would be and phoned up and asked for the relevant department had a nice chat with the officer while he tried to find the relevant application and it was all done in a week.

The other one that took ages was someone with the same name as a murderer, he had to go and have his finger prints taken to prove he wasn't that murderer.