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DBS is currently preparing to implement a number of changes which are planned to go live in late-October 2023. 
 
There are three areas of change that will impact DBS checks: 

1. Introduction of changes to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) rules which dictate whether records are ‘spent’ or ‘unspent’ and which currently define what DBS disclose on Basic DBS checks.
2. Alignment of the ‘Filtering rules’ that inform disclosure of records on Standard and Enhanced checks with the amended ROA rules; so that all unspent convictions and cautions are always disclosed.  This change (which remains subject to approval by Parliament) means that anything disclosed on a Basic check will also be disclosed on a Standard or Enhanced check. 
3. Improvements to DBS systems for Standard and Enhanced checks which will mean DBS no longer issue manual certificates. Once implemented, all customers will receive a system generated certificate and will be able to use this to join the Update Service if they wish to.  

DBS will be issuing further and more detailed communications around these changes over the next two months. This will include scenario-based guidance for applicants and employers explaining the impact on which records will be disclosed.  

We will continue to keep you up to date with all developments and updates as they are being issued by DBS.

We are pleased to share the latest insights into the performance of Verifile’s DBS checks, as well as important information from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) regarding their processing times.
 
The DBS recently released their results for the financial year spanning from April 2022 to April 2023. It is worth noting that the demand for all DBS checks, including Enhanced applications that require referral to the Local Police Forces, experienced a significant surge, surpassing initial forecasts by over half a million applications. Despite this surge in volume, DBS has demonstrated commendable performance, with approximately 50% of all checks being issued within a swift 24-hour timeframe.
 
At Verifile, we are pleased to report that during the same period, an impressive 71% of all DBS checks processed by Verifile were completed within 24 hours, with Basic checks achieving an outstanding completion rate of 87%, Standard checks at 78%, and Enhanced checks at 46%.
 
Our commitment to efficiency and accuracy is further reflected in our average processing times for the year. Across all types of DBS checks, Verifile has achieved an average turnaround time of just 3.08 days. Basic checks have been completed in an exceptional average processing time of 0.61 days, while Standard checks have shown remarkable efficiency with an average of 1.03 days. Even Enhanced checks, which involve a more comprehensive review, were processed within an average time of 7.06 days.
 
For the month of April 2023, Verifile achieved remarkable results with Basic checks completed in an average processing time of just 0.4 days! To provide a comprehensive comparison of Verifile's performance against the overall market, we present the following table showcasing the processing times for April 2023:
 

	Verifile	DBS
Basic	0.4 days	0.9 days
Standard	1.1 days	1.6 days
Enhanced	8.21 days	12.5 days

 
These figures highlight the outstanding performance Verifile has achieved for its customers, with our processing times consistently outperforming the market averages. Despite the increased demand and challenges faced by the DBS, Verifile has remained dedicated to providing swift and reliable DBS checks, ensuring that UK employers can make informed hiring decisions quickly.
 
As an umbrella body, Verifile understands the importance of maintaining a strong collaboration with DBS and appreciates the measures they have taken to address delays, particularly for applications referred to the Police Forces. The steps taken by DBS, such as increasing funding to recruit additional staff, working closely with the forces, and implementing comprehensive training programs, aim to improve the overall processing times for Enhanced DBS checks.
 
We are proud to have consistently delivered exceptional results to our customers, demonstrating our commitment to efficiency and accuracy. Verifile continues to invest in our technology and resources to optimise our operations, ensuring that UK employers benefit from seamless and efficient DBS checking services.

At Verifile, we understand the paramount importance of safeguarding children in educational institutions. That's why we are thrilled to announce our partnership with Crescent Purchasing Consortium (CPC) to bring you a comprehensive webinar on "Keeping children safe with the right background checks."

🗓️ Mark your calendars for the 5th of July at 12pm when the webinar will take place.

Don’t miss out, book your place by signing up here; https://loom.ly/TDpxXyg

We look forward to your active participation and a fruitful discussion during the webinar. Let's work together to create a safer environment for our children!