Education sector to save with criminal records service Safety & Security
when changing jobs or roles within the same workforce. In addition, by joining the service it can place the applicant in an excellent position to apply for roles where a criminal record check is required. Where an individual has subscribed, the employer will not need to apply for a new certificate, but will be able to quickly perform an instant, online free check that verifies the existing certificate is up to date.
T
he arrival of the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)’s new Update Service has improved the ease and speed with which employers can apply for criminal record checks, creating significant savings for schools, colleges, education professionals and supply teachers in particular, as well as enhancing safeguarding.
Let the numbers do the talking Research conducted by the DBS by Ipsos MORI, showed that 87% of employers surveyed said that the new service will save them time and money and speed up the recruitment process for applicants.
For £13 a year, employees subscribing to the optional service can re-use their DBS certificate
The research showed that 67% of employers say they will encourage new staff to join the Update Service as a part of their recruitment process, as well as existing staff who need to be re-checked at regular intervals. This will save employers that pay for the criminal record check, either £26 or £44 for every re-check they would otherwise have performed as part of their safer recruitment processes.
Huge savings
DBS have estimated the cost savings to education establishments in the hundreds of thousands of pounds. For example, if a body the size of Ofsted Early Years, which regularly performs over 37,000 DBS checks each year, was simply re-checking half of these employees, and instead could perform these checks through the Update Service – the savings could be up to £814,000 pa. Even a single FE institution the size of Boston College, performing around 145
checks each year could be saving over £3000 of public funds.
In particular, supply teachers employed by several agencies will see an instant financial benefit. An employer will only need to request a new DBS check if an online check reveals that new information has come to light since the certificate was issued. For some employees, one DBS certificate is all they will ever need. The good news for applicants is that 47% of employers say they are likely to pay for the applicant’s annual subscription fee. Adrienne Kelbie, DBS Chief Executive Officer said of the new service: “The Update Service is particularly ideal for individuals who have multiple DBS checks – such as supply teachers or those who are required to be re-checked periodically. Our research has shown that employers and employees alike will welcome this more efficient service which will save money, speed up recruitment and reduce the paperwork involved in re-applying for checks.” Coinciding with the Update Service is a change in the law as a result of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012. From June, DBS Certificates will only be issued to individuals, who can then be fully aware of the information revealed before presenting the certificate to a prospective employer, and will be able to challenge it if they believe it to be incorrect.
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www.education-today.co.uk
June 2013
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