To work in UK schools everyone needs to have a DBS check from the Disclosure & Barring Service. If you don't have an Enhanced DBS certificate which is registered on the Update Service we can arrange a DBS check for you as part of your registration.
What is a DBS certificate?
A DBS certificate shows us the results of a criminal record check for each applicant.
What is the DBS Update Service?
To work with Zen Educate, your Enhanced DBS must be registered on the DBS Update Service. The Update Service is an online system which updates your criminal record with any convictions or cautions which have happened after the DBS certificate date of issue. Employers and schools can check the Update Service for any changes to the applicant's criminal record. What's great for you is that registering your DBS on the Update Service will save you money, as you only pay £13 annually.
Registration for the Update Service costs £13 per year and you must register for the Update Service within 30 days of your DBS certificate being issued.
The online update service makes sure that your DBS is up to date and means employers can quickly verify that no changes have happened since the issue date.
You can register for the DBS Update Service online here.
How much does a DBS cost?
An Enhanced DBS certificate through Zen Educate costs £47.20. Once you've worked 5 days through us and registered it on the Update Service (for £13 per year) you can claim a refund for the initial £47.20. Please contact our Customer Support Team to claim your DBS refund.
Note that refunds are processed monthly around the 20th of each month so there could be a wait of up to one month.
How do I get a DBS certificate?
To process your DBS you'll need to send us two documents as proof of your address.
How long does it take to get a DBS?
Once we receive your address documents you'll receive a link to complete the DBS application with uCheck. Once submitted, the DBS typically takes anywhere from 2 days to 2 weeks to process.
What if my DBS is taking longer than 2 weeks?
Occasionally DBS checks can take longer than 2 weeks as they often have to be checked by local police stations. It's no problem to ask us to look into the status of your DBS to see what stage it's at. Or if you'd like to check yourself, if you have your DBS form reference number, you can use the Disclosure and Barring Service Tracking Service. If you applied for a DBS through Zen Educate, please just get in touch and we can share your reference number.