What do you mean by DBS fingerprint route?

[CF]

This article will help you understand the DBS's (Disclosure and Barring Service) fingerprint route.

The fingerprint route only applies to Standard and Enhanced level DBS checks.

It should only be used if you cannot proceed using Route 1, 2 or 3 of the DBS's ID checking guidelines: ID checking guidelines for standard/enhanced DBS check applications from 1 July 2021 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Applicants who cannot provide the required documents will then be asked to give their consent to have their fingerprints taken in line with the current procedure.

Employers should note this will require attendance by the applicant at a police station at an appointed time, and may add delay to the overall application process.

Please note: That the cost for using the fingerprint route is the cost of the U.K Criminal Record check that is placed on the client portal, this means that it would be the U.K Criminal Record check placed on the client portal either (standard or enhanced) and that will be the cost, there is no additional cost for using the fingerprint route.

This is because the candidate must take a different route to obtain a U.K Criminal Record certificate, as they cannot provide any documents from Route 1, 2 or 3. 

STEPS:

• The steps for completing a fingerprint route require you to place a U.K. Criminal Record check on the Verifile system as usual.
• Your candidate will need to select 3 documents in order to submit the Background Screening form to Verifile.
• Once the candidate has submitted their online form, please call Verifile on +44 (0) 1234 339 350 between 08:30 to 17:30 (UK Time) to advise this needs to be a fingerprint route application.
• Please ensure that you DO NOT CONFIRM the candidate's identity on the Verifile Client Portal.
• Once you have informed Verifile that this will be a fingerprint route application, we will update your candidate's file to reflect this.
• A paper application form will then be sent from Verifile to your candidate's listed current address.
• Your candidate will need to complete the paper application form and post it back to Verifile.
• Verifile will then complete the rest of the paper application form and post it to the DBS directly.
• DBS will send this back to Verifile to reconfirm that no identity documents have been viewed by yourselves for this candidate.
• Verifile will post this back to the DBS reconfirming to proceed with the fingerprint route for this application.
• The DBS will then contact your candidate to complete a fingerprinting consent form and to provide a passport sized photo of themselves.
• Your candidate will need to complete these and send them back to the DBS.
• The DBS will then contact your candidate's local police station to arrange a fingerprinting meeting with your candidate.
• Your candidate will attend the local police station to provide their fingerprints.
• The local police station will then provide these to the DBS and the application will start.

RELATED CONTENT

ID checking guidelines for standard/enhanced DBS check applications from 1 July 2021 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Whilst we have taken care to ensure that this information is accurate, we update articles regularly. If you feel something is incorrect, please use the feedback buttons below to tell us how we could improve.