Disclosure and Barring Service Checks (DBS)

An appropriate DBS check must be in place for any practical elements of your course involving contact with children and/or vulnerable adults. You can use the Government’s eligibility tool to check which level of check is required or please contact us for further information.

For some courses, it is a course requirement for students to have a particular DBS in place, ready for the mandatory modules where students will be in regulated activity with children and/or vulnerable adults:

Course Name	Level of DBS Check	Barred List(s)	Workforce	Online Update Service required?	Paid for by student/by course fees
Adult Nursing BSc (Hons)	Enhanced	Adult & Child	Adult & Child	No	By course fees
Adult Nursing [pre-reg] MSc	Enhanced	Adult & Child	Adult & Child	No	By course fees
Childhood - Primary Education with QTS BA (Hons)	Enhanced	Child only	Child only	Yes – for course duration	By student
Children’s Nursing – BSc (Hons)	Enhanced	Adult & Child	Adult & Child	No	By course fees
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Counselling MSc	Enhanced	Adult only	Adult only	Yes – for course duration	By student
Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy BSc (Hons)	Enhanced	Adult & Child	Adult & Child	No	By course fees
Diagnostic Radiography BSc (Hons)	Enhanced	Adult & Child	Adult & Child	No	By course fees
Diagnostic Radiography (Pre-Reg) MSc	Enhanced	Adult & Child	Adult & Child	No	By course fees
Mental Health Nursing BSc (Hons)	Enhanced	Adult & Child	Adult & Child	No	By course fees
Midwifery BSc (Hons)	Enhanced	Adult & Child	Adult & Child	No	By course fees
Paramedic Science BSc (Hons)	Enhanced	Adult & Child	Adult & Child	No	By course fees
Physiotherapy BSc (Hons)	Enhanced	Adult & Child	Adult & Child	No	By course fees
Radiotherapy and Oncology BSc (Hons)	Enhanced	Adult & Child	Adult & Child	No	By course fees
Social Work BA (Hons)	Enhanced	Adult & Child	Adult & Child	Yes – for course duration	By student

For the above courses, all students must complete a new DBS check at the start of the course and will be sent a link to login and complete their new DBS application.

An existing DBS check can only be accepted if it meets the course requirements (as listed above) and is currently registered on the Online Update Service, so a live check can be completed. If the existing DBS certificate does not meet the course requirements and/or is not registered on the Online Update Service, a new DBS check is required. Please see the Online Update Service section below for more information.

If you have lived outside of the UK for a year or more, you must also provide an overseas criminal record check; please see further details on the ‘Overseas checks’ tab below.

Employers must complete a DBS agreement (provided by the University of Suffolk) confirming an appropriate DBS check is in place and that safer recruitment checks have been completed. The DBS check must be no older than 3 years by the time the course is completed.

This applies to the following courses:

• Adult Nursing [Degree Apprenticeship] [2 Year] BSc (Hons)
• Adult Nursing [Degree Apprenticeship] [4 Year] BSc (Hons)
• Early Years & Primary Practice BA (Hons)
• Early Years & Primary Practice FdA
• Health and Wellbeing (Nursing Associate) FdA
• Health and Wellbeing (Nursing Associate) [higher apprenticeship] FdA
• Mental Health Nursing [Degree Apprenticeship] [2 Year] BSc (Hons)
• Mental Health Nursing [Degree Apprenticeship] [4 Year] BSc (Hons)
• Midwifery BSc (Hons) [Shortened]
• Non-Medical Independent and/or Supplementary Prescribing (V300)
• Social Work [degree apprenticeship] BA (Hons)
• Specialist Practitioner - District Nursing PgD

Usually, a new DBS check is completed for the placement. A new DBS check can be completed through the University if required. The cost is usually covered by the student. The Government eligibility questionnaire will need to be completed to ensure the correct level of check is carried out.

Any questions on the DBS process for students (Ipswich campus) should be sent to DBS@uos.ac.uk.

All students completing a new DBS check will be required to pay the following fees:

Identity check: £12.00 – Paid directly to the Post Office

Enhanced DBS check: £49.50 – Paid as part of the application

Online Update Service (where applicable): £16.00 – paid to the DBS Government Office upon sign up.  Please note that this is an annual fee that enables the University and placement partners complete a live check on your DBS status.

If you have lived abroad for more than a year you will need to provide an overseas criminal check (this may be required from multiple countries if applicable). We recommend you get your overseas check before coming to the UK, where possible. 

Your overseas check must be translated into English by a certified translator. Where a hard copy is produced, you must provide the original document.

Access a list of countries and how to apply for your overseas criminal record check.

All DBS certificates are considered fairly, and just because you have a criminal record, this does not automatically mean you will not be allowed into practice/onto the course.

We expect you to be open, honest, and transparent about anything in relation to your criminal record and/or good character which could affect your ability to attend practice as you apply for the course, or if anything occurs whilst you are on it.

You should declare your convictions when asked for these by our Admissions team. This will then be considered by a Criminal Convictions Panel to assess whether you will be able to attend practice/continue with the course. Your DBS certificate must also be reviewed (we will need to see the original to review what has been declared on there).

If something occurs during your study, you must inform the University immediately by contacting safeguarding@uos.ac.uk as well as your course leader. You will be asked to complete the declaration form to explain what happened, which will be considered by the University’s Criminal Conviction Panel. You may also need to complete a new DBS check.

To check your DBS certificate on the Online Update Service, it must meet your course requirements as defined above. Then, we must verify your original DBS certificate (the physical certificate, not a copy) and you must complete an online consent form to allow us to check this. Please contact us if you have a DBS certificate you need us to check.

The Online Update Service allows a live check on your DBS status. Further details can be found on the Government website.

Can I start my placement once I receive my DBS certificate?

The University of Suffolk DBS Team will confirm when you have completed the DBS process. You must, however, wait to hear from the Placement Team and/or your Course Leader before entering placement. This is because there may be other things besides your DBS check which need to be in place first.

I have spent time travelling/living abroad. Do I need to provide anything extra besides my UK DBS check?

If you have lived abroad for more than a year you will need to provide an overseas criminal check (this may be required from multiple countries if applicable). Please see ‘Overseas checks’ above for further information.

I have lost my DBS certificate; can I get a copy?

The University of Suffolk does not keep copies of your DBS certificate and the Government does not usually issue a re-print. The University of Suffolk may, however, be able to provide you with the main details of your DBS certificate. All requests for these must be made from your student email address to: DBS@uos.ac.uk

Name changes

If you have changed your name, you may need to complete a new DBS check in your new name, particularly if your DBS certificate is registered on the Online Update Service. Please contact us on DBS@uos.ac.uk to check.

Do you do DBS checks for staff and student ambassadors?

No – POD (our People and Organisational Department) manages DBS checks for all staff. The Student Ambassador team manages all DBS checks for student ambassadors.

Do I need to declare any changes to my criminal convictions status while studying?

If you need to declare something which could impact your ability to practice (or study), please contact the Safeguarding Team immediately: safeguarding@uos.ac.uk