Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

Applicants are required to have a check undertaken by the Disclosure and Barring Service. You should complete the online DBS form carefully, using the help section if needed.

Payment for the DBS needs to be made through the payment portal on the University website before the application form can be sent. Once completed, the ID selected during the application process will need to be verified, you will receive instructions on how to book an appointment to do this if your ID is to be verified at Birmingham Newman. Alternatively, if you paid for Post Office Verification you will need to take your ID to the Post Office selected.

The University will send off your Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service. This process could take some weeks. If you already have a DBS at the relevant level of disclosure and it is currently registered to the DBS Update Service, it may be possible to use this one instead of applying for a new one. Contact the Admissions Team or your relevant Faculty Office for advice on this.

The Disclosure and Barring Service is an executive agency of the Home Office which provides disclosures to enable employers and voluntary organisations to make safer recruitment decisions.

Disclosures will provide details of a person’s criminal record including convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings held on the Police National Computer. If the position involves working with children, disclosures will also contain details from lists held by other Government departments of those considered unsuitable for this type of work. It may also contain information held by local police forces.

There are three levels of disclosure:

• Enhanced
• Standard, and;
• Basic

The most detailed disclosure is the one required for teacher training students.

Payment is made through Birmingham Newman University’s online store. If you are verifying your ID on campus your DBS will cost £66.50, if you wish to have your ID verified at a Post Office your DBS will cost £72.50.

Once you have made your payment you will receive an email with a link to the Know Your People website, the organisation ID and access code to register.

Once you have completed registration you will be able to complete the DBS online application form.

If you are getting your ID verified at a Post Office, please ensure that you select which Post Office branch you will be taking your ID to and follow any further instructions on the application form.

For ID verification on campus, you can bring your documents to the Student Helpdesk during our opening hours which are Monday – Thursday 8:30am – 4:30pm and Fridays 8:30am – 4:00pm.

Please note that bank statements, council tax statements and utility bills must have been posted to you.  Online printed statements cannot be accepted for ID verification for DBS checks.

If you have lived outside UK for a period of more than 6 months within the last 5 years, while aged 18 or over you will be required to provide a police check from that country.

If you have any questions regarding the DBS process or the forms of ID that can be accepted, please contact admissions@newman.ac.uk.

When completing your DBS application you will be asked what documents you wish to use to verify your identity. When sufficient ID has been selected a green bar will appear at the top of the application.  If you have changed your name you will need to bring proof of name change (deed poll, marriage certificate etc.

ID must be original, copies can’t be accepted.

Please be aware that the University can’t accept printed bank statements or letters. Bank statements and letters must have been posted to your current address and in most cases be dated within the last 3 months.

Once you have submitted your application and your identity has been verified, the application will then be forwarded to the DBS.

Within the next few weeks a DBS certificate will be sent through the post to your current address. Newman University will also be provided with confirmation that the check has been completed.

Newman University will not need to see your DBS certificate unless there are offences recorded on the DBS.

• If there are offences recorded on your certificate you will need to present your certificate to the Student Helpdesk. The University is required to look carefully at any offences recorded on a DBS disclosure before admitting students to professional programmes such as teacher training or before placing other students in an environment with children or vulnerable adults.
• Alongside your DBS disclosure, you are asked to submit a letter of explanation to the University about the offence(s), giving full details of what occurred, why you committed the offence and the full circumstances. An explanation should be given for each offence.  It is important that you realise that the University will not admit/place you until the DBS disclosure has been cleared.  Please make sure you sign and date the letter before submitting it. The letter and DBS certificate should be brought to the Student Helpdesk anytime during our opening hours or posted by Special Delivery clearly marked FAO: Admissions and enclose a Special Delivery envelope to enable us to return it safely to you.  The address can be found at the bottom of the page.

If you already have a DBS at the relevant level of disclosure and it is currently registered to the DBS Update Service, it may be possible to use this one instead of applying for a new one. Contact the Admissions Team or your relevant Faculty Office for advice on this. In order for the University to check your DBS on the update service you will still need to present the same ID to the University, as if you were applying for a new DBS check. You will also need to keep your DBS online registration up-to-date.

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Update Service allows applicants to keep their DBS certificates up-to-date and allows employers to check a DBS certificate. The service is for standard and enhanced DBS checks only. You can register your DBS even before you receive the certificate but you must register within 30 days of the certificate being issued. Read the DBS Update Service website for more information.

Personal data provided by you for the University to check the DBS Update Service may be stored and used by the University, for the same purpose, throughout the duration of your programme of study. It will be destroyed in a timely manner after the end of your programme.