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Original poster

Chasing DBS

28 replies

vdbfamily · 04/04/2024 14:35

I have DD age 21 who is having a years break from Uni ( insisted on by Uni) due to poor mental health. She is on a health course that requires enhanced DBS, as does her current job and previous jobs.
Her last application for most recent job she applied for update service and this was 4 months ago. She just rang me in tears as so stressed about this. Her work are chasing her, she will need current DBS to start Uni placement in May, they are not responding to emails, cannot get through on phone. She has had DBS's since she was 17 as has always worked in care homes.
I am worried this will make her anxious and depressed again just before starting her course.
Any suggestions as to why it is taking so long.
If it makes any difference she has been in Lancashire since Sept 22 and before that was in Sussex but had 4 months as au pair in Berlin. Do you think they are doing overseas police check? They can cause delays but would they not let you know?

OP posts:
mitogoshi · 04/04/2024 14:37

DBS is taking literally 4 days currently (i process them), 2 months ago I did my own and I had it cleared in 24 hours and the form arrived within the week. She needs to go back to the agency processing it

murasaki · 04/04/2024 14:39

I used to organise them for staff and the speed at which they came back meant I didn't believe for a second that they did any overseas checks.

LIZS · 04/04/2024 14:39

Abroad should not be an issue. Dd was in Canada for a year but got the Scottish equivalent within a few weeks. If she is already on the update service it should be straightforward. Has she given them the code?

Pinkyandthebrain96 · 04/04/2024 14:45

They are taking forever to process in my area .I have one for work but recently needed one for voluntary work with teenagers that I also do ,took 6 weeks .After 60 days to can ask DBS themselves to escalate it .You can check Lancashire current turnover time .Ring back DBS I rang quite a few times , also check the agency have not made a mistake , something was written down wrong on mine so had to go back which held it up more . I get your frustration and uni should understand not be giving her grief poor girl .

Tulipvase · 04/04/2024 14:47

I think it must vary by area as I know someone at my school was waiting weeks and this was earlier this year.

TootsyPants · 04/04/2024 15:41

I did an enhanced one last Wednesday and it came back yesterday. Not bad considering 2 days were holidays.

CourtneyB123 · 04/04/2024 15:44

I'm currently waiting for mine back it's been 2 weeks, I've previously waited a couple of months sometimes 24 hours. I think it takes a little longer to process if address has changed frequently within a certain time period but I'd be chasing them up if possible

PuttingDownRoots · 04/04/2024 15:48

Apparently it depends on the police area, not only where you live now but any other addresses they have to check. Plus how common your name is. So some peoples take ages, others days.

MustDust · 04/04/2024 16:10

Is this Lancs now? DS did his before Christmas and got nothing back, no answer to calls or emails from the company, he got his school to redo it a D if came through quite quickly, I'm just wondering if they both got lost in a system somewhere and she can resubmit it somehow.

BloodyAdultDC · 04/04/2024 16:33

If the dbs is required for her university course then surely THEY should be chasing up the application?

(I work in a similar field and we do the initial dbs application - up to the student to chase but we get updates about the progress and if anything is outstanding. Would deffo be worth speaking to someone at the uni, maybe the dbs team or course admin?)

Citrusandginger · 04/04/2024 16:35

As pp say it varies by area.

Her last application for most recent job she applied for update service and this was 4 months ago.

I'm not sure here if you mean she is on the update service or not? Usually, you apply within 2 weeks of your DBS coming through and then just have to give new employers the reference number.

If she can it's worth the money for future jobs.

Original poster
vdbfamily · 04/04/2024 16:40

Citrusandginger · 04/04/2024 16:35

As pp say it varies by area.

Her last application for most recent job she applied for update service and this was 4 months ago.

I'm not sure here if you mean she is on the update service or not? Usually, you apply within 2 weeks of your DBS coming through and then just have to give new employers the reference number.

If she can it's worth the money for future jobs.

She said it was on this application that she ticked the update service so not started yet

OP posts:
Citrusandginger · 04/04/2024 17:23

I'm not sure about the form she has, but I wonder if there might be a little confusion and if it is worth her checking that the DBS has actually been applied for.

If she has ticked update service, it is possible the organisation thinks she is already on the update service. I hope I'm wrong, but it might be worth her phoning the placement provider just to check.

LIZS · 04/04/2024 17:27

If the previous dbs came through then her invite to the update service will have followed by email shortly afterwards. You have to pay a fee so it is not automatic,

Citrusandginger · 04/04/2024 18:18

Sorry I've explained really badly. (Too busy thinking about what's for tea). But as LIZS says the update service isn't automatic.

She should only have ticked "update service" if she already has it, meaning she has paid her fee and had received her reference number.

Original poster
vdbfamily · 04/04/2024 20:00

I have told her just to apply for update service and we will pay for her just to calm her down. She says work won't reapply as will be charged twice. She comes home tomorrow so we will sort it one way or another bit frustrating that both work and Uni would normally pay but we will have to just to get it sorted as no one responds to emails.

OP posts:
Citrusandginger · 04/04/2024 20:18

I think we may still be at cross purposes I'm afraid. You can only apply for the update service after you have received your DBS.

Once it comes through, she will have 2 weeks to pay her fee if she wants to join the update service.

LIZS · 04/04/2024 21:47

Unless she has a very recent dbs she cannot now apply for the update service. If she did not do it previously she just has to wait now and do it once the new dbs is received.

Original poster
vdbfamily · 04/04/2024 22:44

LIZS · 04/04/2024 21:47

Unless she has a very recent dbs she cannot now apply for the update service. If she did not do it previously she just has to wait now and do it once the new dbs is received.

So she is a nursing student who also has worked in Care homes since she was 17. This current job wanted their own DBS and applied in January. She had had to work supervised since she started as it had not come back. They seem to be expecting her to chase it up but she is not getting responses to emails.
She had one for first year Uni as had placements so despite having a year out I would have thought that one would still be current as only 2 years ago. I guess she might not know that though and is panicking about not only work nagging her but the possibility of not being able to go on placement.
I will see her in person tomorrow and get to the bottom of it all.

OP posts:
MirandaWest · 04/04/2024 22:47

DS has just had one done - submitted the forms last Wednesday and got it back yesterday which I felt was very quick considering the Easter bank holidays

LIZS · 04/04/2024 22:49

There is actually no regulation of dbs check frequency although good practice is minimum three yearly. Each employer/organisation requests their own which is where the update service can be useful to speed it up. Could she have confused the system by ticking the update box before she had it in place perhaps? Did she get her documents countersigned etc in January and complete a new form?

Citrusandginger · 05/04/2024 07:45

It is very common for good health employers to ask for a DBS within 3 months of starting unless the person is a member of the update service.

What I am taking from your posts is.

  • your DD doesn't have a DBS with the last 3 months.
  • your DD is not on the update service.
  • your DD told her placement she is on the update service by ticking the box.

Apologies if I have misunderstood.

I think it possible, that the placement haven't applied for her DBS, because she has told them she is on the update service.

My advice would be

  • she needs phone the provider this morning to ask if they have applied for her DBS & explain that she ticked the update service by mistake. At least then she will know where she is.
  • if she needs to, to get back with her ID documents ASAP (or upload to the online link provided).
  • once her DBS comes back, to join the update service as soon as she can and keep up her annual payments to avoid this situation in future.
savoycabbage · 05/04/2024 08:16

This is a good point.

If she's told them she's on the update service they won't have applied for a dbs. I've had mine for years and years and when you apply for a new job you give them the update service reference number and the new job can check the DBS online.

savoycabbage · 05/04/2024 08:18

She had one for first year Uni as had placements so despite having a year out I would have thought that one would still be current as only 2 years ago.

They only last a year now which is a money making scheme in my opinion.

xyz111 · 05/04/2024 08:18

I believe every area is different. Eg if you live in Kent, then it's Warwickshire police that do the checks (I think!)

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