If you are a volunteer and need a standard or enhanced DBS check, you will not be charged any government fee. The only cost you will have to cover is the administrative fee of the coordinating entity with which the check is made. The fee for the upgrade service will remain the same, at 13 pounds a year. Standard, improved and enhanced DBS checks with prohibited lists for volunteer applications will continue to be free.
However, there is no legal requirement for employers to pay a DBS verification fee. When it comes to who pays for a DBS check, usually the employer specifies this in the job description. Most employers that require multiple DBS checks usually have a DBS account, so they will bear the costs. Volunteer applications will continue to be free and will only be subject to our administrative fee.
The first DBS checks for adults will also continue to be priced the same and the DBS upgrade service will be charged at the current rate of 13 pounds sterling per year. Thousands of jobs and volunteer opportunities in the UK require applicants to complete a DBS check as part of their application. Criminal background check requests involve the Disclosure and Prohibition Service (formerly known as the Criminal Records Office) checking applicants' criminal records to confirm whether they are fit to work with children or vulnerable adults. Employers who want to hire often stress that a DBS check is mandatory as part of the hiring process for a job. The Disclosure and Prohibition Service (DPS) carries out regular reviews of fees and charges that applicants must pay to ensure that those who wish to apply for a DBS check get value for money. It's important to ask who is responsible for paying the DBS check fee during the interview phase.
To save time and money, employers only need to request DBS checks once the job offer has been accepted. On the first day of each month, an invoice will be sent with a breakdown of all the DBS checks submitted by the company. Most organizations accept responsibility for paying requests for basic, standard, or improved DBS checks. This reduction in spending has also coincided with an increase in the national living wage, meaning that anyone who needs a DBS check should be able to afford it. The cost of a DBS check can vary depending on the type of control being performed and the organization that requests it. In conclusion, if you are a volunteer and need a standard or enhanced DBS check, you will not be charged any government fee.
It's important to ask who is responsible for paying the DBS check fee during the interview phase.
