DBS Checks for Children's Activities
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DBS Checks for Children's Recreation & Activities Services in 48 Hours
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DBS Checks for Children's Activity Providers
Types of businesses this might be relevant to
When Is an Enhanced DBS Check Required?
My staff member already has a DBS from another job, can I use that?
The Children's Barred List Explained
If your staff will be working at locations where children participate in activities, such as sports clubs, music schools, holiday camps, or after-school programmes, you will almost certainly need to obtain an Enhanced DBS Check. Depending on how often your staff are onsite and the times they work, you may also be required to include a Children’s Barred List check.
A Children’s Barred List check is typically needed if your staff are likely to:
Be onsite for more than 3 days within any 30-day period, or
Be onsite between 2am and 6am when children are present.
The Children’s Barred List is an official UK register listing individuals who are legally barred from working with children. It is a critical safeguarding tool that prevents unsuitable people from holding positions involving direct and unsupervised contact with children, such as roles within children’s activity settings. Anyone on this list is prohibited from participating in regulated activities with children.
Individuals are placed on the Children’s Barred List following thorough investigations triggered by concerns about their behaviour or conduct. The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) manages the list and ensures only those who genuinely pose a risk are prevented from working in environments where children are present.
When recruiting for children’s activity roles, employers must carry out an Enhanced DBS Check with a Children’s Barred List check. This screening not only provides detailed criminal record information but also confirms whether a candidate is barred from working with children. This process helps your organisation maintain a safe and trustworthy environment for all participants.
Including the Children’s Barred List check within the Enhanced DBS Check offers a robust safeguarding measure, providing an essential layer of protection for children attending your activities. It ensures compliance with legal safeguarding requirements and reassures parents, carers, and regulators that only suitable individuals are entrusted with their children’s safety.
How to get for DBS Checks for Children's Activity Staff
CRBonline is a cutting-edge AI-powered web platform designed to simplify and accelerate the DBS check process for staff and contractors working within children’s activity settings. The platform automates every step, offering intelligent guidance from registration through to final result delivery.
Getting Started
Once your organisation registers, you’ll receive secure login credentials. You can then add internal users, such as HR or safeguarding officers, and assign them the necessary permissions to manage DBS checks for your activity staff and volunteers.
Starting a DBS Check for Activity Staff
To begin a DBS check for a staff member or volunteer, simply enter their name and email address into the system. The individual will receive an email invitation to access and complete their application form.
After clicking the link and setting up their password, the applicant is guided through the form with AI-assisted validation to help prevent common errors, such as incorrect National Insurance numbers or incomplete address histories.
ID Verification and Submission
Once the applicant submits their section, you’ll be notified to verify their identification documents. You confirm the IDs presented, and the platform’s smart validation ensures all legal requirements are satisfied, alerting you once the correct documentation has been recorded.
You will then be prompted to specify:
The required DBS check level (Basic, Standard, or Enhanced)
The applicant’s job role within the activity setting
Whether a Barred List check is necessary
Whether the role is voluntary
The AI system further minimises errors by verifying eligibility based on this information.
Payment Options
After finalising the check details, payment can be made through:
Pay-as-you-go
Prepaid credit bundles
Delegated billing, where the applicant receives and pays the invoice directly—ideal when applicants cover their own DBS check costs.
Submission and Results
Once payment or credits are confirmed, the DBS application is securely and promptly submitted to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Both your organisation and the applicant receive notifications, including a unique reference number and a direct link to track the progress of the check in real time.
Upon completion:
The applicant receives the official paper DBS certificate by post.
Your organisation obtains an electronic summary of the DBS results via the platform.
Throughout the process, CRBonline’s AI keeps all parties informed with timely updates, ensuring transparency and confidence at every stage.
Need to ask a question before registering…?
If you are already a customer, please login and use the regular support channels on the platform
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most popular questions we get about DBS Checks for Children’s Activity Businesses
How much does a DBS Check cost?
When arranging a DBS Check through an Umbrella Body for staff or volunteers involved in children’s activities, the total charge typically comprises two elements.
The first element is a set fee payable to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). This fee is charged per application regardless of the number of checks submitted. The current DBS rates are as follows:
Basic DBS Check: £21.50
Standard DBS Check: £21.50
Enhanced DBS Check: £49.50
Enhanced DBS Check with Adults’ and/or Children’s Barred List Check: £49.50
The second element covers the administrative costs charged by the Umbrella Body to process each application. These fees often vary based on the volume of checks conducted. For example, CRBonline’s administrative charges start from £4.00 per DBS application.
Can I fast-track or pay for a faster DBS Check?
No, fast-track processing is not available. The Disclosure and Barring Service handles every DBS application equally, without giving priority to any submissions.
Once your application reaches the DBS, neither CRBonline nor any other Umbrella DBS provider can affect the processing time.
Our focus is on making the DBS check process as seamless and efficient as possible by offering a user-friendly platform that reduces applicant errors and simplifies each step from start to finish.
What is fastest way to get a DBS Check?
For Standard DBS Check, or Enhanced DBS Check: use a DBS Umbrella Company like CRBonline, which provides a modern platform and online e-bulk DBS Checks
Register for Free Organisation Account Here
For Basic DBS: apply directly to Disclosure and Barring Service
Can anyone get a DBS Check?
Anyone can apply for a Basic DBS Check, but Standard and Enhanced DBS Checks are only available for roles that meet specific eligibility criteria.
Eligibility for Standard or Enhanced checks is governed by legislation, primarily the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 and the Police Act 1997. Not all job roles qualify for these checks. Employers must use the official GOV.UK eligibility tool to determine the appropriate DBS check level, as requesting a higher level than permitted can be unlawful.
They provide an eligibility tool.
The DBS also provide detailed eligibility guidance here.
What is a DBS Umbrella body?
A DBS Umbrella Body (or umbrella company) is an organisation officially registered to access the DBS service and process DBS checks on behalf of other employers or organisations.
CRBonline is a well-established DBS Umbrella Body.
Umbrella bodies act as intermediaries between employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). This arrangement benefits most businesses and charities that don’t register directly with the DBS, as direct registration typically only makes sense for organisations processing thousands of checks each year.
Instead, these organisations use an umbrella provider to handle administrative tasks such as providing the application platform, counter-signing applications, submitting them to the DBS, and offering ongoing support and guidance throughout the process.
How long does a DBS Check take?
Most DBS Checks are completed within 48 hours, though the exact processing time depends on the type of check requested. Basic DBS Checks are typically the quickest, often returned within just a few hours. Standard DBS Checks usually take up to 5 working days, with many being completed between 24 and 48 hours.
Enhanced DBS Checks, which are processed via Local Police Forces, may sometimes be returned on the same day. However, they generally require more time than Basic or Standard checks. Typically, most Enhanced Checks are finalised within 10 working days.
Which identification documents are needed for an DBS Check Application
Applicants undergoing DBS Checks must present their identification documents to an authorised ID checker within your organisation. The Disclosure and Barring Service specifies that a particular combination of valid and current ID documents is necessary, depending on what the applicant can provide. For the most up-to-date list of acceptable ID documents and requirements, please refer to the official DBS guidance here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-identity-checking-guidelines
How long is a DBS check valid?
A DBS check does not come with an official expiry date; it captures an individual’s criminal record as it stands on the date the certificate is issued.
The details disclosed are only accurate up to that point. Unlike documents such as passports, DBS certificates do not expire, but they won’t reflect any convictions or cautions that occur after their issue date. Employers should always review the certificate’s issue date and decide if a new check is needed based on how long ago it was issued.
In many industries, routinely renewing DBS checks is considered good practice and may be required by regulatory authorities. Typically, checks are refreshed every three years, though some organisations, especially those handling higher safeguarding risks, may mandate annual or biennial renewals.
How do I track a DBS Check application?
Both employers and applicants can conveniently access all tracking information for a DBS application via our platform.
You can effortlessly follow the progress of the application at each stage. Once the application is with the Disclosure and Barring Service, a dedicated link allows direct access to the official DBS tracking system for real-time updates.