Please contact hscdbsoh@lsbu.ac.uk to arrange a time to provide your original documents in person to a member of staff at the Southwark campus. Please highlight in your email if you are a student at another campus.
Disclosing Barring Service (DBS)
It’s what you do that countsWe cannot stress enough how important the Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check is in helping you land your dream job. Your DBS is essential now for going on placements and vital throughout your future healthcare career.
Why do you need a DBS?
Put simply, you need one to go on placement and eventually to work, as no hospital or other healthcare environment will employ you without one. You need what is called an ‘enhanced DBS check’, so even if you’ve had a DBS before, all pre-registration students need to be DBS cleared again. Don’t worry the process is straightforward, although it can take a while so start as early as possible.
What’s the process?
You’ll receive an email from our DBS supplier (Verifile) before you start your course.
The email will contain instructions on how to login. Verifile have partnered with Yoti for online ID checking.
You will be prompted to upload your documents and take a liveness test. Therefore, you will need your ID documents to hand.
Once you have completed the online ID check you will be moved back through to Verifile to complete the process.
When you've finished, your Disclosure Statement will be mailed to the most recent address in your submission, so please make sure it's correct. LSBU will not receive a copy of your DBS statement so please ensure you keep this document safe as you may be asked to produce it for host placements or work. if you lose your DBS during you course you will be required to pay for another check.
If there are disclosures on your DBS we will be advised by Verifile. You will be asked to submit a copy for us to review and if applicable this will be sent to our professional virtual panel to assess the disclosures.
DBS update service
If your subscription is up to date and you already have a DBS certificate for an enhanced level, check with both the adult and child workforce. Please be advised that we are able to accept updated service certificates by emailing us at hscdbsoh@lsbu.ac.uk
Document check
As part of the DBS check you will need to product three accepted documents from this list.
Document check at the Post Office
If you’re not able to come to campus, you can get your documents checked and certified at the Post Office for a fee of £12.75. To do this, make photocopies of your three accepted ID documents and take your DBS form, copies and originals of your documents to the Post Office. The Post Office will stamp the form and photocopies and given them back to you. Email your post office receipt, stamped form and stamped documents to hscdbsoh@lsbu.ac.uk.
Frequently asked questions
How do I complete my DBS?
You’ll receive an email from our DBS supplier (Verifile) before you start your course.
The email will contain instructions on how to login. Verifile have partnered with Yoti for online ID checking.
You will be prompted to upload your documents and take a liveness test. Therefore, you will need your ID documents to hand.
Once you have completed the online ID check you will be moved back through to Verifile to complete the process.
LSBU are not automatically sent a copy of your DBS certificate, due to data protection. We are, however, given your certificate number and clearance date for your student record. Please keep your certificate safe as you will need to show it when you go on placement.
What do I need to declare on my DBS?
You’ll receive an email from our DBS supplier (Verifile) before you start your course.
The email will contain instructions on how to login. Verifile have partnered with Yoti for online ID checking.
You will be prompted to upload your documents and take a liveness test. Therefore, you will need your ID documents to hand.
Once you have completed the online ID check you will be moved back through to Verifile to complete the process.
LSBU are not automatically sent a copy of your DBS certificate, due to data protection. We are, however, given your certificate number and clearance date for your student record. Please keep your certificate safe as you will need to show it when you go on placement.
Why do I need an enhanced DBS check?
Government legislation requires all Higher Education Institutions who offer courses where students may come into unsupervised contact with children or vulnerable adults to have this check. These checks also help us to ensure duty of care to our students, and create a safer environment for patients seen by our students.
I’ve applied for/had a DBS in past. Do I need to do it again?
Yes, you do. You need to have an up-to-date DBS. Once you have received the email from our DBS supplier make sure you start the process straight away. All details of how to do this will be outlined in the email. If you don’t complete your DBS in the timeframe given, we may withdraw your offer even if term has already started. So it’s important that you get started as soon as you receive the email.
Who reviews my DBS?
As part of the University’s admissions process, declarations of any offence may be referred to a virtual panel made up of senior managers from partner NHS Trusts and/or other sectors within Health and Social Care. Any DBS that is considered by the panel will be anonymised. The panel members then deliberate and make a recommendation whether the application be rejected, accepted or request further information or documents.
When will I hear back from the panel about my DBS?
If you have declared an offence, we might ask for more information from you in writing which will help the panel make a decision. Once your declaration has been referred to the panel it can take up to 28 working days to be processed.
Which address do I use?
You need to put your current address on your DBS application because this is where your certificate will be mailed. If you’ve moved house between submitting and receiving your DBS, make sure you have mail forwarding set up so that you’ll receive your certificate.
One of your ID documents must prove your address.
I’ve lost my statement. What do I do?
If you've lost your statement you will need to pay £46 to purchase a new one. This price is subject to change if the cost of checks increases in future.
You must pay for your new check using this link and send evidence of payment to hscdbsoh@lsbu.ac.uk before a new check will be ordered for you.
I’ve had my application rejected due to my DBS declaration/disclosure. Can I appeal the decision?
Yes. If your application has been rejected due to your DSB declaration/discloser, you will be sent a letter to confirm this. There will be instructions in the letter about how you can appeal and which supporting information you need to provide. Once a decision has been made you will receive a letter from the School Executive Team.
Does passing a DBS mean that I will be automatically registered in my profession at the end of my course?
The Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body for your profession will have the final say as to whether you are admitted to the register following graduation and may ask you for more information at that time.
Next steps
Need support?
Have queries about DBS or the document checks? We’re with you all the way so please email us at service@verifile.co.uk.
In this section
- Disclosing Barring Service (DBS)
- Occupational Health (OH)
- Uniforms