Can a DBS Check be used for different jobs

Our team often get asked questions along the lines of, ‘Can I use my DBS Check for a different employer?’. The answer isn’t particularly straightforward. In some cases, it’s a yes and in some cases, it’s a no.

Here we’re looking at the caveats of whether DBS Checks can be used for different jobs. 

Can my current DBS be used at my new job? 

Technically, you could use an existing DBS Certificate in support of a new job. However, it isn’t best practice and there are a couple of things you need to bear in mind.  

First, the original DBS Certificate will be needed, and this will need to have been issued within the past 1-3 years. Secondly, the original DBS Check will need to be of the exact same type as the one required by the new employer. Not only does the level of DBS Check need to be the same, but it also needs to have the correct Workforce and Barred List included. 

For example, an Enhanced DBS Check for working with vulnerable adults could reveal different information to an Enhanced DBS Check for working with children. 

If an employer accepted a check of the wrong type, they could miss some important information about a potentially safeguarding liability. Alternatively, they could be presented with information they aren’t legally entitled to see. 

This is why, if you need a DBS Check for a new job, your employer will probably want to carry out a new DBS Check. 

Ultimately, is at an employer's discretion whether they will accept an existing DBS Certificate. Most employers won’t. This can be because they are sticking to best practices, or it could be company policy to have DBS Certificates issued in their company name. 

The only exception is if your DBS Certificate has been registered on the DBS Update Service.  

The DBS Update Service? 

 The purpose of the Update Service is to make recruitment easier in areas where DBS Checks are common. Industries like healthcare or education, for example. 

Registration to the DBS Update Service essentially makes a DBS certificate portable between employers. As long as the registered certificate is suitable for the work being applied for, it can be used indefinitely. 

A subscription to the DBS Update Service costs £13 a year but theoretically means you’ll never need to complete another DBS Check. However, the original DBS Certificate is still required for a subscription to be valid. 

Registering for the Update Service needs to be done within 28 days of the DBS Certificate being issued. Although, if you submit your DBS electronically, registration can be completed before the DBS Check has been completed. All you need is your personal information and e-reference number (tracking number). 

If you’re an employer looking for more information about using the DBS Update Service in your business, you can check out our guide. If you’re a certificate holder and need more information about registering for the Update Service, this guide can help.