Adult First Check
Our services provide you with bespoke solutions for urgent recruitment and vetting challenges. Register now to complete Adult First Checks.
Results usually returned within 24 hours
First class customer service and support
What is an Adult First Check?
If an Adult First Check returns a clear result, applicants are permitted to start work or training with vulnerable adults before they have a DBS Certificate. This is only used in exceptional circumstances. You must apply for this check alongside an Enhanced DBS with an Adults’ Barred List Check, not instead of one.
It’s important that applicants don’t start work until a clear Adult First Check is received and that they remain under supervision until they receive their DBS Certificate. As an employer, you must take care when using this check to make recruitment decisions.
Adult First Checks search the Adults’ Barred List. The checks confirm whether an applicant is on the list or it requests that you wait for the DBS Certificate before making a recruitment decision. This doesn’t mean the applicant is on the Adults’ Barred List, but there may be information on the disclosure that could affect your recruitment decision.
Eligibility for Adult First Checks
Adult First Checks are only for applicants that require an Enhanced DBS with Adults’ Barred List Check. They apply to applicants at care homes, domiciliary care agencies and adult placement schemes – settings where DBS Certificates are legal requirements.
Any other type of check isn’t eligible for the Adult First Check. For example, applicants working with children and adults can’t apply for this check. Employers, in that case, would need to wait for the DBS Certificate to be returned before making a recruitment decision. There’s no equivalent for the Children’s Barred List.
Benefits of Adult First Check with us
Carrying out employment screening is important for safeguarding. We help you save time, money and resources. You’ll also enjoy a range of other benefits:
Safety
Make safer recruitment decisions and vet staff to a higher standards.
Trust
Build trust in your organisation and amongst your community.
Reassurance
Receive accurate reports and have peace of mind in your recruitment decisions.
Efficiency
Meet your resource demands with our fast-track vetting system.
Retention
Increase staff retention by appointing the right people in the right places.
Compliance
Receive advice to perform the right level of check and meet industry standards.
Our process
Our process is accessible and straightforward thanks to our bespoke system. As an Umbrella Body of the DBS, we provide a reliable and efficient service that can be tailored to your needs.
We go above and beyond to provide first-class customer care, and one-to-one expert advice is available every step of the way from our dedicated and accredited team.
Easy and free registration
You can set up an account in a matter of minutes, submit applications on our user-friendly portal and manage checks on your dashboard.
Applying for checks
To ensure efficiency, our team will use their expertise to check your applications. We will make sure the information is accurate and valid.
Receive your results
You will be notified when the results are ready. Our fast turnaround provides confirmation of your checks and peace of mind.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
If an Adult First Check returns a clear result, applicants are permitted to start work or training with vulnerable adults before they have a DBS Certificate. However, this is only used in exceptional circumstances. Employers must be take care in their decision making and ensure safeguarding measures are put in place.
You will be given the option to add DBS Adult First Checks when you apply for Enhanced DBS with Adults’ Barred List Checks. This will be submitted when your Enhanced DBS Check is in process. You will receive a reference number and an email notification when the results are available, which is usually within 24 hours.
You can also request Adult First Checks after applying for an Enhanced DBS Check. Contact us if you need this service. Our expert advisors are on hand to help and provide expert advice.
The DBS Barred Lists include the Children’s Barred List and the Adults’ Barred List. These are commonly used in vetting checks to ensure someone isn’t barred from working with a vulnerable group, such as children or vulnerable adults.
Supporting services
Our additonal services can be used alongside Adult First Checks to provide comprehensive compliance and piece of mind.
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