The Update Service, which launched in June 2013, has now reached 1 million subscribers. It puts applicants in greater control of their information and has significant benefits for both employers and employees but a lot of employers are still unaware of the benefits the service can provide them with.
Benefits for employers:
Benefits for employers:
• Free and instant DBS status checks can be carried out by employers online.
• The checks can be carried out as frequently as needed.
• Bureaucracy is reduced.
• Costs are reduced. The employer may never need to carry out/pay for further DBS checks.
• Employers can carry out multiple checks, checking all staff at the same time.
• Speeds up the recruitment process as applicants are pre DBS checked.
Benefits for employees:
• Allows employees to reuse their DBS certificate when applying for similar roles within the same workforce sector.
• Puts an individual ahead of the game when applying for jobs.
• The service is free for volunteers.
• Employees can go online and see who has checked them and when.
Action to be taken by the employer:
Before considering phasing your staff onto the Update Service, you must make contractual changes for the scheme to work effectively. The employer needs the ongoing permission of their staff to make such checks. It is important that staff continue to subscribe to the service for the duration of their employment. Contact [email protected] for details regarding contractual requirements, quoting ‘Update Service’. If a status report indicates that a member of staff may be barred, the information relating to the incident will be protected by the Data Protection Act.
Action to be taken by the employee:
Originally, once a DBS certificate had been returned, the time allowed to register with the Update Service was 14 days. This was temporally increased to 19 days and now, employees have up to 30 days from the date the certificate was issued to register with the Update Service. It costs the employee £13.00 per annum, payable by debit or credit card only.
There is no doubt that the Update Service significantly increases effective Safeguarding compared with the three year recheck system. It should, therefore, be a priority for care providers.