Basic DBS Checks for Employers and Organisations
Request Basic DBS checks online through Employment Tools, a Government Registered Body trusted by organisations across the UK.
Manage applicants, verify identities and track progress in one place. Complete applications received before 4pm are checked and submitted on the same working day where no corrections are required.
What does a Basic DBS check show?
A Basic DBS check shows unspent convictions and conditional cautions. It is the only level of DBS check that can be requested for any lawful purpose.
Suitable for a wide range of roles
Employers can request a Basic DBS check where the position does not qualify for a Standard or Enhanced check.
Popular with recruitment agencies
Commonly used when supplying catering, hospitality and other temporary staff where additional pre-employment screening is required.
Fast Turnaround Times
Once sent to the Disclosure and Barring Service, a Basic DBS check is usually completed within 24 hours, if not a lot sooner.
What is a Basic DBS check?
A Basic DBS check is a criminal record check that shows an applicant’s unspent convictions and conditional cautions at the time the check is completed.
It is the only level of DBS check that can be requested for any lawful purpose. Employers and organisations can therefore use Basic DBS checks for roles that are not legally eligible for a Standard DBS check or Enhanced DBS check.
A Basic DBS check can form part of an organisation’s wider pre-employment screening process, helping it make a more informed recruitment decision.
- Shows unspent convictions Convictions that have not yet become spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act may appear on the certificate.
- Shows conditional cautions Conditional cautions that remain unspent may also be disclosed.
- Does not show spent convictions Spent convictions are not included on a Basic DBS certificate.
- No restricted occupational eligibility Unlike Standard and Enhanced checks, a Basic DBS check does not require the role to be listed in specific eligibility legislation.
Choosing the right level of DBS check
A Basic check can be requested for any lawful purpose. Standard and Enhanced checks are only available where the role meets specific legal eligibility requirements.
Basic DBS check vs Standard and Enhanced DBS checks
Each level of DBS check can disclose different information and has different eligibility rules. A Basic DBS check can be requested for any lawful purpose, while Standard and Enhanced checks are only available for legally eligible roles.
A Basic DBS check is often the appropriate starting point
Where a role is not legally eligible for a Standard or Enhanced DBS check, an employer is recommended to request a Basic DBS check as part of its wider pre-employment screening process.
Ready to Make Employment Checks Easier?
Register for free, book a demonstration or speak to our team about your organisation’s requirements.
When might an employer use a Basic DBS check?
A Basic DBS check can be requested for any lawful purpose and does not have the restricted occupational eligibility rules that apply to Standard and Enhanced DBS checks.
Employers and organisations can request a Basic DBS check as part of their recruitment or screening process where they consider it appropriate and have the applicant’s consent.
It is commonly used for positions that do not qualify for a higher-level DBS check, but where the organisation still wants to consider an applicant’s unspent criminal record information.
Who can request a Basic DBS check?
Any organisation can request a Basic DBS check for an applicant through a Responsible Organisation such as Employment Tools. There is no requirement for the position to appear within specific DBS eligibility legislation.
Basic DBS checks may be used for:
- Hospitality and catering staff
- Temporary and agency workers
- Warehouse and logistics roles
- Drivers and delivery workers
- Retail employees
- Administrative and office staff
- Cleaners and facilities workers
- Contractors and maintenance staff
These are examples of roles where an organisation may choose to request a Basic DBS check. A Basic check is not automatically required for every person working in these positions.
Speed up DBS checks with Digital ID
Digital ID allows applicants to verify their identity online in just a few minutes, helping to avoid delays caused by arranging appointments, waiting for physical documents or sending copies by email.
It also provides a more secure and robust method of verifying identity. The technology can check identity evidence for signs of tampering, inconsistencies or attempted fraud, including checks against information held within a passport.
Once completed, your organisation receives a Digital ID PDF report to retain with its records, while the result is linked directly to the applicant’s Employment Tools profile.
Why use Employment Tools for Basic DBS checks?
Reduce your screening costs with free admin credit, verify applicant identities online and manage DBS checks and other employment checks through one secure account.
Add funds and receive extra admin credit free of charge
Free admin credit gives your organisation more spending power whenever you add funds to your Employment Tools account.
Your account balance can be used across DBS checks, Digital ID checks and the other employment-screening services available through Employment Tools.
Apply your account funds and free admin credit to Basic, Standard and Enhanced DBS checks, Digital ID checks and other available employment checks.
Free admin credit reduces the effective administration fees applied to eligible services. Government fees, where applicable, remain fixed.
Verify applicant identities online with Digital ID
Applicants can verify their identity online in just a few minutes, helping to reduce paperwork and avoid delays while physical documents are provided.
Your organisation receives a Digital ID PDF report to keep with its records, while the result is linked to the applicant’s Employment Tools profile.
Learn about Digital ID checks →Same-working-day submission before 4pm
Complete applications received before 4pm, Monday to Friday, are checked and submitted on the same working day where no corrections are required.
Approved by the Government as a Registered Body
Employment Tools by Aaron’s Department is listed on the official DBS Registered Body directory.
Get more value from your employment screening budget
Register free of charge and use Employment Tools for DBS checks, Digital ID verification and your wider employment-checking process.
How much does a Basic DBS check cost?
A Basic DBS check includes the fixed government DBS fee of £21.50, plus a small Employment Tools administration fee from just £3.63 plus VAT.
With the highest level of free admin credit, the total cost starts from just £25.13 excluding VAT.There are no sign-up fees, no monthly charges and no minimum spend. Basic DBS checks do not qualify for the volunteer DBS fee waiver, so the government fee applies whether the applicant is in a paid or voluntary position.
| Disclosure Type | Standard Price |
With 10% Free Admin Credit |
With 20% Free Admin Credit |
With 30% Free Admin Credit |
With 40% Free Admin Credit |
With 50% Free Admin Credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic DBS Check (DBS Fee: £21.50) | £26.95 | £26.45 | £26.04 | £25.69 | £25.39 | £25.13 |
| Disclosure Type | Standard Price |
With 10% Free Admin Credit |
With 20% Free Admin Credit |
With 30% Free Admin Credit |
With 40% Free Admin Credit |
With 50% Free Admin Credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic DBS Check (DBS Fee: £21.50) | £28.04 | £27.44 | £26.95 | £26.53 | £26.17 | £25.86 |
Ready to Make Employment Checks Easier?
Register for free, book a demonstration or speak to our team about your organisation’s requirements.
How to apply for a Basic DBS check
Processing a Basic DBS check through Employment Tools is straightforward. Your organisation can complete the application on the applicant’s behalf, or invite the applicant to fill it in themselves.
Register your organisation for free
Create your Employment Tools account with no sign-up fee, monthly charge or minimum spend.
Create the Basic DBS application
Add the applicant to your account and select a Basic DBS check. You can then either complete the application yourself or send it securely to the applicant.
Complete the applicant information
The organisation or applicant enters the required personal details, previous names and address history through the online form.
Verify the applicant’s identity
Check the applicant’s identity using the appropriate evidence, or use a Digital ID check so they can verify who they are online.
Review and approve the application
Check that names, dates and address history are complete and accurate, then confirm that the application is ready to be submitted.
Employment Tools checks and submits it
Our team reviews the application before submission. Complete applications received before 4pm, Monday to Friday, are submitted on the same working day where no corrections are required.
The result is issued
Once the DBS has completed the check, the result is issued and the applicant receives their Basic DBS certificate.
Completed before 4pm?
Where no corrections are needed, we check and submit the application on the same working day.
Start your first Basic DBS application
Register your organisation free of charge and choose whether your team or the applicant completes the form.
How long does a Basic DBS check take?
Basic DBS checks are often completed quickly, although there is no guaranteed completion time. On average at Employment Tools, we see them completed within 24 hours, if not sooner.
Employment Tools helps the process begin as quickly as possible. Complete applications received before 4pm, Monday to Friday, are checked and submitted on the same working day.
Making sure the applicant’s names, dates and address history are complete and accurate can help avoid preventable delays. Once the application has been submitted, the remaining processing time and certificate production are controlled by the DBS.
Ready to Make Employment Checks Easier?
Register for free, book a demonstration or speak to our team about your organisation’s requirements.
Basic DBS Check FAQs
Clear answers to common questions about Basic DBS checks, what they show, costs, application times and using Employment Tools.
What is a Basic DBS check?
A Basic DBS check is a criminal record check that shows convictions and conditional cautions that are considered unspent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.
It can be requested for any lawful purpose, including employment, and does not have the restricted occupational eligibility rules that apply to Standard and Enhanced DBS checks.
What does a Basic DBS check show?
A Basic DBS check shows unspent convictions and conditional cautions held on the Police National Computer at the time the check is completed.
It does not include spent convictions, additional information held by local police or checks of the Children’s Barred List or Adults’ Barred List.
Does a Basic DBS check show spent convictions?
No. A Basic DBS check only shows convictions and conditional cautions that are considered unspent under the relevant rehabilitation rules.
Some spent criminal record information may be disclosed through a legally eligible Standard DBS check or Enhanced DBS check, subject to the DBS filtering rules.
Who can request a Basic DBS check?
A Basic DBS check can be requested for any lawful purpose. An employer or organisation can submit an application on behalf of an applicant through a Responsible Organisation such as Employment Tools.
The applicant must know that the check is being requested and provide the information and consent required to process the application.
Can an employer request a Basic DBS check for any role?
Yes. Unlike Standard and Enhanced checks, a Basic DBS check does not require the position to meet specific occupational eligibility rules.
An employer may request one as part of its recruitment process where it has a lawful reason for doing so and handles the applicant’s information fairly and appropriately.
What types of roles commonly use Basic DBS checks?
Basic DBS checks are commonly used for positions that do not qualify for a Standard or Enhanced check but where the organisation wants an additional level of pre-employment screening.
Examples may include catering and hospitality staff, temporary workers, warehouse employees, drivers, retail staff, cleaners, contractors and administrative roles.
Can recruitment agencies request Basic DBS checks?
Yes. Recruitment agencies can use Employment Tools to request and manage Basic DBS checks for applicants they are supplying to clients.
Basic checks are particularly common for agencies supplying catering, hospitality and temporary staff where the client requires additional screening but the role is not eligible for a higher-level check.
What is the difference between Basic, Standard and Enhanced DBS checks?
A Basic DBS check shows unspent convictions and conditional cautions and can be requested for any lawful purpose.
A Standard DBS check can also show eligible spent convictions and adult cautions that have not been filtered. An Enhanced DBS check may additionally include relevant local police information and, where legally permitted, checks of the Children’s Barred List, Adults’ Barred List, or both.
Standard and Enhanced checks are only available for legally eligible roles.
How much does a Basic DBS check cost?
The fixed government fee for a Basic DBS check is £21.50. Employment Tools then charges an administration fee.
With the highest level of free admin credit, the total price starts from £25.13 excluding VAT, or £25.86 including VAT.
There are no sign-up fees, monthly charges or minimum spend.
Are Basic DBS checks free for volunteers?
No. The government fee waiver for eligible volunteers only applies to qualifying Standard and Enhanced DBS checks.
The £21.50 government fee applies to every Basic DBS application, including checks requested for voluntary positions.
How long does a Basic DBS check take?
There is no guaranteed completion time, although Basic DBS checks are often completed quickly. Official guidance states that a Basic check can take up to 14 days, but many applications may be completed sooner.
Employment Tools checks and submits complete applications received before 4pm, Monday to Friday, on the same working day where no corrections or further information are required.
Once submitted, the remaining processing time is controlled by the DBS.
Who can complete the Basic DBS application?
Your organisation can complete the application on the applicant’s behalf, or you can send secure login details so the applicant can complete their own form online.
Whichever route you choose, your organisation can review the information and track the application through its Employment Tools dashboard.
What documents are needed for a Basic DBS check?
The applicant must provide sufficient approved evidence to confirm their identity. This may include documents such as a passport, driving licence or other evidence accepted under the Basic DBS identity-checking rules.
The exact evidence required will depend on the identity route being used and the documents the applicant can provide.
Can Digital ID be used for a Basic DBS check?
Yes. Where the applicant has suitable identity documents, a Digital ID check can allow them to verify their identity online in just a few minutes.
Employment Tools provides the organisation with a Digital ID PDF report for its records, and the result is linked to the applicant’s profile.
Who receives the Basic DBS certificate?
The Basic DBS certificate belongs to the applicant. Once the check is complete, the applicant can receive or access their certificate through the relevant DBS route.
Where an employer needs to consider the result, it should make sure it has the applicant’s permission and follows the appropriate recruitment and data-protection procedures.
Can I track a Basic DBS application online?
Yes. Employment Tools allows organisations to see whether an application has been started, whether information or identity verification remains outstanding and when it has been submitted.
Once the application is with the DBS, its progress can also be followed through the relevant DBS tracking service.
Can a Basic DBS certificate be used for another job?
An employer may choose to accept an existing Basic DBS certificate, but the certificate only reflects the applicant’s record on the date it was issued.
The new employer remains responsible for deciding whether the certificate is sufficiently recent and suitable for its recruitment process or whether a new Basic DBS check is required.
Does a Basic DBS certificate expire?
A Basic DBS certificate has no official expiry date. The information shown is accurate at the time the certificate is issued.
It is up to the organisation to decide when a new check is needed, taking account of the position, its recruitment policy and any relevant industry or contractual requirements.
Can a Basic DBS check be added to the Update Service?
No. The DBS Update Service is currently available for eligible Standard and Enhanced DBS certificates, but it is not available for Basic DBS checks.
Where an organisation needs more recent information, it will need to request a new Basic DBS application.
Why use Employment Tools for Basic DBS checks?
Employment Tools gives organisations a simple and cost-effective way to manage Basic DBS checks online.
Organisations benefit from:
- Free registration with no monthly charge or minimum spend
- Basic DBS prices from £25.13 excluding VAT
- Up to 50% free admin credit when adding account funds
- Digital ID verification with a PDF report
- Same-working-day submission for complete applications received before 4pm
- The option for the organisation or applicant to complete the form
- Automatic applicant reminders and online tracking
- Support from a real UK-based team
Ready to Make Employment Checks Easier?
Register for free, book a demonstration or speak to our team about your organisation’s requirements.
FAQs and Further Reading
If you’re new to DBS checks, you’ll probably still have some questions – these pages might be of use: