How to Complete a DBS Application Form

When you attend to complete the application form, please have with you:

• Your National Insurance number

If possible, bring documentary evidence for your National Insurance number.

• Your UK driving licence number, if you have one

A provisional driving licence is valid for DBS purposes.

• Your passport number, if you have one
• Your email address
• Your phone number
• All names by which you have ever been known and the month and year that you started and stopped using each one

In descending order please.

No gaps in the dates, but overlaps are OK.

If possible, please provide documentary proof to support any changes of name.

• All addresses where you have lived in the last 5 years, with the month and year that you started and stopped living at each one.

Include overseas addresses.

No gaps in the dates, but overlaps are OK.

Postcode essential for your current address but not for previous addresses.

We are only interested where you lived.

If you run out of space

If you run out of space, just use a sheet of A4 paper. Alternatively, you may use a Continuation Sheet - a link is on the left.

Please take care

Before completing the DBS application form, please read "Guidance for Applicants" - a link is on the left.

Please also note the following:

Rejections

The following will cause rejection of an application, and we won't be able to make any corrections on your behalf. A new form will have to be completed. Your fee won't be wasted but delay will be caused.

• Failure to use black ink
• Not keeping your signature within the box provided
• Use of correction fluid
• Writing on the back page (Sections w,x and y)

The back page must be left blank.

Errors

The following are common errors that can usually be corrected over the telephone or by email. This is why we ask for the email address and phone number of applicants.

• Failure to complete sections marked in yellow
• Not providing full names
• Incorrect formatting of dates

The Date of Birth needs to in the format DDMMYYYY. All other dates need to be in the format MMYYYY.

• Incorrect driving licence number

UK driving licence numbers begin with the first five letters of your surname. If your surname has less than five letters, 9's are substituted.

• Not providing a full five-year address history
• Not providing the correct documents

We have no discretion to vary DBS requirements.

Please provide as many documents as you can. This will help if any turn out to be invalid on inspection.

Please go to page 'Documents' for more information.

Declaration and signature

You sign the application form at the bottom of page 3 - section e, add the date of signature, and answer question 55.

The back page of the application form

The back page must be left blank. Instead, the employer should provide on a separate sheet or email the following information:

• The name of the person who checked the applicant's identity by means of original documents
• The job title of the applicant
• Whether a standard or enhanced check is required

If enhanced, we always assume that the applicant will not see patients in the applicant's own home. Please give us full details if this is not to be the case.

• Whether it is a new post-holder, existing post-holder or an existing post-holder who is being re-checked

• The signature box on the back page must be left blank

If in any doubt at all please contact us.