Anyone recently been through a DBS check

Windofchange

Hi all,

As per the title really. I am waiting to give notice at my current job and start a new one pending Enhanced DBS clearance. I have read all there is to read about the process and escalating after 60 days have elapsed and that stage 4 is commonly the part it gets stuck at which is where I am at. What I was wanting to ask is for anyone who has been through an enhanced DBS check in the last couple of months, how long did it take to come back? It will be 2 weeks tomorrow since the form was validated and the thing has been stuck at stage 4 since Monday, so four days now. All my addresses are in the London area (Met Police jurisdiction), so I don't think from what I can gather they are going to need to send anything off to other forces. The previous two that I had done in 2015 and 2018 were each back within 72 hours start to finish, so this is dragging on way longer. I have nothing on my record and no previous names, just a few address moves over the past 5 years, but that is what I had in 2015 and 2018 too. Have others had to wait a long time, or is mine being held up for some reason outside of my control - audit as an example? 

Jasonh2015

Mine was a standard DBS check and credit check for my new job.

I had to fill in a few forms with the screening company and got a letter about a week later. To tell the truth, I didn't check it, no idea what it said, but I got the job Mine was in finance, I believe the Enhanced is for education and health care roles, working with young and vulnerable people etc.

Windofchange

It is yes. I've had numerous enhanced ones before that have all come back within a few days, but this one for some reason isn't forthcoming hence the ask as to whether or not anyone has been through this recently in the London area, and what sort of timeline. I get that it can vary week to week and person to person, but I'm just being impatient...

billy2shots

As an employer I routinely send off for Enhanced Checks with Adult First check also needed. 

On average everything comes back after 3 weeks, the adult first part in 48h. 

If you have had multiple addresses in the last 5 years it could extend the process.

I must admit I don't know if they still do but as far as I understand the police part of the check used to go to each local station where you have lived in the past 5 years hence the delay if you have moved around. 

Windofchange

Thanks all. So, as luck would have it stage 4 got completed about 20 mins ago. So as not to post and run for anyone else who may be asking this in the future, the answer for me was pretty much 2 weeks to the hour from having my ID remotely validated to getting to Stage 5 certificate being printed. 

[Deleted User]

I had an enhanced DBS check because of working in a school, this was October 21 and it came back within a few weeks.   I had to join the update service because it needs regularly updating.

Jessie3

Hi, id say definitely get yourself on the update though just because it saves all the hassle next time you need it. Glad its progressed quickly for you, main things that hold it up is change of addresses or if you have moved out of area and then you come under different local authorities. I once had a dbs take 4 months so from then on iv always made sure i stay on the update as it delayed my start date. 

Windofchange

Yup, I have registered for the update service as for £13 a year it is well worth the money for the next time I move roles. I had four different addresses on mine, but as per original post, they were all in the same jurisdiction under the Met Police. 

2childmum2

Just be aware that not all organisations will accept the update service - both myself and my husband have had to do new enhanced checks within the last couple of months with two different organisations that insisted on a new one

Own_Worst_Enermy

Yes, been through enhanced in just under one week in 2022 despite posters on here saying otherwise. 

I was aware of a company changing their name ever so slightly at start of 2022 which meant at one point the DBS stalled and deleted (I had to ask why when I'd given my data over as much as this wasn't understood on this forum) and as much as it was frowned upon on here, that DBS's could take longer then a week, it was not my experience in 2021 that the DBS would take a week plus to clear. But posters on here didn't know better than DBS providers themselves so you are best asking directly once you know name of DBS host.