DBS Applications

Disclosure checks are mandatory for all adult volunteers working with children and young people.

Volunteers in England & Wales must hold a valid Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) Certificate including Children’s Barred List, which has been obtained via BB Headquarters or local Church.

Acceptable Routes

Acceptable routes are as follows (more details about these can be found below):

• A disclosure check is undertaken via BB Headquarters.
• A disclosure check has been obtained by the local Church within the last 6 months and indicated that there is nothing that would deem the individual unsuitable to work with children and young people (for Company appointments only). A copy of the disclosure check certificate must be provided to BB Headquarters.
• A valid certificate has been registered with the DBS Update Service (BB Headquarters will automatically carry out rechecks). A copy of the disclosure check certificate that was used to register must be provided to BB Headquarters.

For options 1 and 2, certificates will be valid for a five year period, at which point a new disclosure check should have been carried out, or registered with the DBS Update Service within 30 days of issue. DBS Update Service memberships automatically renew unless the DBS requests that additional steps are completed.

Registering a New Leader

If the applicant is a new or returning leader, the appropriate Leader Registration Form must be completed and returned to BB Headquarters. The forms can be found here.

When a form has been processed, the applicant will be sent details for completing our Managing Risk and Safeguarding e-learning modules via Online Brigade Manager (OBM).

It is important to note that applicants will not be permitted to volunteer in The Boys’ Brigade until both modules have been completed and they have a valid DBS certificate in place.

Disclosure checks via BB Headquarters

This section is applicable to new leaders and those requiring a new disclosure check after a five year period.

Identity documents belonging to the applicant will need to be checked by the Company Captain/Correspondent or Battalion Secretary/President/Vice-President/Treasurer (the “Identity Checker”). The Identity Checker cannot be related to or live with the applicant.

Three forms of original identity documents (not photocopies) must be produced, at least one of which confirms the applicant’s current address, in line with one of the following routes:

Route A: Applicant can provide at least one Group 1 document (must provide at least one document from Group 1 and two further documents from either Group 1, Group 2a or Group 2b).

Route B: Applicant does not have a Group 1 document (must provide at least one document from Group 2a and two further documents from either Group 2a or Group 2b). Non-UK nationals cannot use Route B.

Expand the drop downs to view the acceptable forms of identity in each group:

Submitting a DBS application online

The Identity Checker together with the applicant should use our online DBS Application Form to submit the information required by BB Headquarters to process an application. As part of this the Identity Checker will be asked to provide particular details from the forms of identity being checked.

The information on the ID Checking Form, once submitted, will go directly to BB Headquarters. Both the applicant and Identity Checker will receive email confirmation that the information has been received.

After confirming the details of the applicant, BB Headquarters will process a DBS application via Disclosure Services. If there are any queries, the applicant and/or Identity Checker will be contacted as appropriate.

Disclosure checks via local Church

If a disclosure check is being undertaken by the local Church, the certificate number and issue date should be included in the Church Nomination section of the Leader Registration Form (for new leaders) and a copy of the disclosure check certificate must be provided to BB Headquarters.

Existing leaders requiring a five yearly check who have had this completed via the local Church must provide a copy of their disclosure check certificate to BB Headquarters.

Remember that the certificate must be dated within the last 6 months and must be an Enhanced Certificate including Children’s Barred List.

DBS Update Service

If the individual is a member of the DBS Update Service using an Enhanced Certificate including Children’s Barred List, the certificate number and issue date should be included in the Church Nomination section of the Leader Registration Form (for new leaders) and a copy of the disclosure check certificate that was used to register must be provided to BB Headquarters.

Registering for the DBS Update Service

New certificates can be registered with the DBS Update Service within 30 days of the certificate being issued. This can be done here using the certificate number.

Once a certificate has been registered please email support@boys-brigade.org.uk to advise us so that we can update our records accordingly and carry out rechecks as required. A copy of the certificate used to register for the DBS Update Service must be provided to BB Headquarters, unless the disclosure check was carried out by us.

Completing a Registration

Once a new or returning leader has a DBS certificate that indicates there is nothing that would deem them unsuitable to work with children and young people, and completed our mandatory e-learning modules, this will be verified by BB Headquarters and the registration made live.

The leader will receive email confirmation informing them that they are permitted to volunteer. A registration card will be sent by post to the leader approximately 4-6 weeks after this.

Any Questions

If you have any questions about this process please email us on support@boys-brigade.org.uk or phone 0300 303 4454.