Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

[andy118run]

This may or may not be in the correct place but I know there are plenty of health professionals around on here.

I am just in the process of moving from one NHS trust to another. Today I received my DBS certificate, less than 2 weeks since completing the online application so way quicker than the old CRB, in my experience.

However, in the info the new Trust sent out to me it stated in their letter that I should 'subscribe' to the DBS update service once I receive my certificate, one of the benefits being they can check my certificate on line. Therefore, I have been on the DBS update website this evening, entered the relevant details upon which it takes me to a page requesting I enter my card details so it can take a payment of £13 (for a years' subscription).

Now 13 pounds is not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, if I have to pay then I will. I was just wondering if anybody else has been through a DBS check lately and whether this expectation is now the norm? I haven't changed jobs many times over the years but I've never been left out of pocket by the process. I am already paying my professional registration fees annually while having to tolerate the government's 1% pay rise for nurses without the need to be further shafted by a subscription service I have no interest in or real need for. Anybody?

Edited by andy118run on Friday 16th January 19:53

[randlemarcus]

andy118run said:

This may or may not be in the correct place but I know there are plenty of health professionals around on here.

I am just in the process of moving from one NHS trust to another. Today I received my DBS certificate, less than 2 weeks since completing the online application so way quicker than the old CRB, in my experience.

However, in the info the new Trust sent out to me it stated in their letter that I should 'subscribe' to the DBS update service once I receive my certificate, one of the benefits being they can check my certificate on line. Therefore, I have been on the DBS update website this evening, entered the relevant details upon which it takes me to a page requesting I enter my card details so it can take a payment of £13 (for a years' subscription).

Now 13 pounds is not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, if I have to pay then I will. I was just wondering if anybody else has been through a DBS check lately and whether this expectation is now the norm? I haven't changed jobs many times over the years but I've never been left out of pocket by the process. I am already paying my professional registration fees annually while having to tolerate the government's 1% pay rise for nurses without the need to be further shafted by a subscription service I have no interest in or real need for. Anybody?

Edited by andy118run on Friday 16th January 19:53

I suspect the bit I put in bold is the important part. You have no need for it, so, erm, don't pay for it. Quick check with your HR bods to make sure they don't require you to (i.e. they will pay for it) and job jobbed.

Interestingly, the last time it came up for contract renewal, I seem to recall that the subject having free online access to updated checks was part of the T&Cs. Ho hum, I guess Capita's cheap bid was a bit too cheap.

[Hoofy]

Last time I had one, I think I had to cough up about £40?

[andy118run]

Hoofy said:

Last time I had one, I think I had to cough up about £40?

That was probably the cost of the actual CRB check. Most NHS employers tend to meet that expense. This update service seems a new thing, presumably, as randlemarcus suggests, to line Capita's pockets with a bit of cash.

[The_Doc]

andy118run said:

Hoofy said:

Last time I had one, I think I had to cough up about £40?

That was probably the cost of the actual CRB check. Most NHS employers tend to meet that expense. This update service seems a new thing, presumably, as randlemarcus suggests, to line Capita's pockets with a bit of cash.

never ever ever ever had an NHS Trust or any hospital pay this for me. I have had to pay for about 8 of these over the years. All before the subscription service, which seems to me like a big money spinning wheeze.

I once had three applications all in the same month as each organisation had to commission their own. Stitch-up.

[Hoofy]

[Alex106]

I thought the annual subscription was so a future employer could acquire your check quickly without you having to pay each time its completed. Thats the way it was explained to me. Useful if you move jobs frequently.

[sawman]

The_Doc said:

never ever ever ever had an NHS Trust or any hospital pay this for me. I have had to pay for about 8 of these over the years. All before the subscription service, which seems to me like a big money spinning wheeze.

I once had three applications all in the same month as each organisation had to commission their own. Stitch-up.

They only do that to orthopaedic surgeons - its managements wheeze to wind you up.;)

I have always had these funded by the trust - for the last few years I have had two part time jobs running concurrently - which means 2 CRB/DBS, one of the trusts I work for currently have a policy which means the DBS is repeated every 3 years - it must cost them a fortune over the whole trust - when I recently did this, I had to make 3 visits to HR 20 miles away (should have been 2 visits but they forgot to photocopy something) so pretty much an afternoon of my time and 120 business miles (had I remembered to claim it!). Of course if I had managed to obtain a criminal record within the 3 years , the regulators would have been striking me off in any case, so it all seems a bit pointless

Edited by sawman on Saturday 17th January 13:35

[Hoofy]

Don't get caught, then!