Professional programmes such as Health, Social Work and Education require a DBS as a mandatory part of the application process. If you have applied to study a programme which requires a DBS application you will be instructed as part of the application process that a DBS is needed. Other programmes such as Sport Development or History may include a placement where a DBS is required, if this is the case your faculty will advise you contact the DBS Coordination Team to complete a DBS application.
Should your programme of study requires a satisfactory DBS check, you must complete the DBS application before you enrol with us. If you don’t, you will not be able to start your course.
The University uses an online application process, part of this process includes a mandatory face to face ID check. Before each major intake for professional programmes, successful applicants will be invited to attend a session where DBS applications will be completed. For programmes which include a placement, the DBS check will be arranged on an ad hoc basis in conjunction with the placement team in the relevant Faculty. If you think you require a DBS check for your programme or placement, contact the DBS Coordination Team for more information.
If you are unable to attend on the date of the DBS checking session listed for your programme, the Post Office provides a ‘Document Certification’ service. You can find further information on this method at www.postoffice.co.uk/identity/document-certification. The University covers the cost of enhanced DBS checks where this is a mandatory requirement, but if you choose not to attend a DBS checking session in person, we will not reimburse you the cost of using the Post Office’s service. The Post Office will issue you with certified copies of your identification documentation – please send these to us at:
DBS Team, Registry Services
Pandon Building
Camden Street
Northumbria University
Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST
United Kingdom
You must bring at least 3 hard copy documents to confirm your identification and your address. We cannot accept electronic versions - if you don’t bring the correct documentation, we will not be able to complete the check.
Examples of identification document:
Examples of address verification:
You can find a full list of the documentation you can use on the ‘gov.uk’ website pages on DBS checks ‘gov.uk’ website pages
If you study a professional programme where the DBS is mandatory, then the DBS Certificate you receive at the start of your programme will last you for the duration of your programme unless you step off or repeat a year. Students studying professional programmes will be required to make a self-declaration of criminal convictions at the beginning of each academic year to ensure they have not committed any offences since their DBS Certificate was issued. Should you interrupt your studies or if regulated activity continues beyond three years, a DBS recheck will be required.
DBS checks are not transferrable, however the Disclosure and Barring Service have initiated a scheme called the DBS Update Service. This is an annual subscription service designed to make your DBS portable. There are restrictions and limitations to this service and there is charge to the applicant. You can find more information on the DBS update service here.
The cost of the DBS checks will be covered by the University for all mandatory requirements of professional programmes, and for requirements on optional placement activity. However, if there is a change in your details (name change or an address change) then you will incur a fee. The DBS Coordination Team can contacted for any further guidance.
If your DBS check is a mandatory part of your application you will be asked to declare all criminal convictions on your UCAS application. Our admissions team will then contact you for further details of this conviction. The Admissions Panel will make a decision based on the information given as to whether your application should be progressed.
If your application is progressed you will then be asked to complete a DBS Check application. If you expect a caution or conviction to show on your DBS check you should ensure that you complete the DBS application as soon as possible. Once we have received notification that a DBS check has been returned 'Containing Information' then the applicant will be asked to submit a written statement giving details of the circumstances.
All declarations of convictions, cautions or reprimands are taken seriously, however having one (more more) does not necessarily mean you will be prevented from studying the programme. All checks which Contain Information such as a caution or conviction will be considered by the University’s DBS Panel.
The Panel will seek advice from the Faculty placement area and make a decision on whether you can take part in a placement and therefore if you're suitable to study the programme. If you are worried about declaring a possible conviction, caution or reprimand, you can contact the DBS Coordination Team for more advice.
It is important that students look after their DBS certificate. Because of the nature of the DBS check a re-print cannot be issued for lost or damaged certificates, instead anyone who loses their DBS certificate will need to re-apply, and regardless of the programme, the cost will need to be covered by the applicant.
Please click here for the payment of your new DBS application. The DBS Coordination Team will receive confirmation of your payment and will be in touch with further information
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