DBS Checking

How To Apply For a DBS Check

The DBS application is made up of a paper form, but you’ll also need to provide a series of documents to prove your identity that York SU Staff can verify and then send your application to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

1. Collect a form from Helpdesk at York SU (Student Centre, James College) during their opening hours in term-time (10-4pm).

2. Complete the form, ensuring you fill-in all the mandatory fields. (Check out our DBS guidance pages to help you complete the form correctly)

3. Gather three pieces of evidence to verify your identity, at least one of these documents must prove your full name, date of birth and current address and if possible, evidence with photographic identification. The government website includes the full list of acceptable evidence documents.

4.  To have your identity documents checked and application form signed off, please book an appointment with our Helpdesk Co-ordinator, George, to arrange a time. This will avoid you waiting at Helpdesk for staff to be available to check your documents and instead you will have a 10 minute slot where you can quickly get your documents checked and application finalised. This will be completed in person at York SU Helpdesk and you will be required to bring your paper application form and your three pieces of evidence in their original forms. You can book an appointment with George, here, choosing a slot which is available. At certain times of the year, York SU staff may offer other drop in slots where you can just come and get it checked without appointment.

5. Helpdesk staff will process your application after confirming your identity according to the form and evidence provided. 

6. You will be asked to agree to the DBS Privacy Policies and sign that you agree for York SU to keep a record of completing your check on file.

7. York SU’s DBS Countersignatories will review the application and send the form off within 5 working days.

8. The Disclosure and Barring Service will process the application and send your certificate to the current address you included on the form. To keep your check up to date, we’d recommend that you sign up to the DBS Update Service when you receive your certificate.

9. Once you receive your check, send a  scanned copy or photo of the certificate to dbs@yorksu.org or bring it to Helpdesk at York SU so we can record that you have received your final check.

DBS Application Process

In order to submit a DBS Application, YorkSU must:

• Establish the true identity of the applicant through examining a range of documents

• Ensure that applicant provides details and evidence of all names by which they have been known

• Ensure that the applicant provides details of all addresses where they have live in the past five years and proof of address for the current address

In order for them to do this, you must produce the following:

• A total of 3 documents, including:

  • 1 document from Group 1, and

  • 2 further documents from group 1, 2a or 2b

• A five year address history

• From the three documents you'll provide, one document must be proof of address for your main address (this can either be your home or university address). If this is a document with a date (eg, bank statement), it must not be older than the date indicated in the list below.

• If you have a national insurance number, valid passport or driving license you must be able to supply these numbers on the form, even if you do not have them as a piece of evidence.

• We cannot accept photocopies, scans or documents printed on the internet.

• If you have changed your name, proof of this must be provided.

Contact your link staff member, Gen Andrews (g.andrews@yorksu.org), Volunteering Team (volunteering@yorksu.org), Helpdesk (helpdesk@yorksu.org) or DBS (dbs@yorksu.org)