Please note the content of this page is relevant only to existing University of Cumbria students returning to course (e.g. intercalations; deferred placements.) If you are a new applicant applying via the Admissions Office, please see the Admissions Checks pages.
There are 3 parts to completing the DBS application:
As part of the DBS application process, we must confirm your Nationality and your Right to Work in the UK. We are unable to process your DBS application until you have provided your Right to Work ID evidence.
Please see 'Providing Evidence of Right to Work for DBS' below for full details on what ID documents you need to provide.
https://www.cumbria.ac.uk/applicants/admissions---next-steps/dbs/right-to-work-for-dbs/
You will receive an email containing a web address, username & password to complete your DBS application online. This email comes from an address ending '...@cumbria.disclosures.co.uk', this is a no-reply email address and so it may go into your spam/junk folder in error. If you do not receive this email, please let us know.
You must complete the online application promptly as DBS checks can take some time to be completed.
Check which Nationality you fall under so that you know what ID documents you will need to provide:
Acceptable DBS ID UK Nationals Only
Acceptable DBS ID All Overseas Nationals
Acceptable DBS ID Irish Nationals Only
Please note that your full legal name must be spelled correctly on all documents for them to be acceptable for DBS ID check purposes.
There are different arrangements for applicants depending on where you live, and the ID documents you have available. For further information, please see the DBS Team's Providing your ID Documents webpage.
If you require any assistance, please contact the DBS Team by email: dbsapply@cumbria.ac.uk or by phone: 01228 242914 ir 01228 242928.
Important: Self-disclosure of any criminal record
As part of the DBS clearance process you may also need to submit a self-disclosure form. Should you have any queries or concerns about this please email the DBS Team.
Please refer to the guidance above and complete our Criminal Record Self Disclosure form now if applicable to you. Please return by email to dbs@cumbria.ac.uk and contact us if you have any queries.
It is very important that you declare any offences, even if you believe them to be ‘spent’ (expired) or if the police have told you that they will be removed from your record. This is unlikely to be the case in the context of a career working with vulnerable groups, because such areas are excluded from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and offences are therefore never considered spent. You will not prejudice your chances by being honest with us, but you may do so by concealing information which is later revealed on a DBS check.
Receiving this form as early as possible from you will assist us in dealing with your DBS clearance situation in a timely manner.
Depending on your age at the time of the offence, the type of offence, and the amount of time that has elapsed since then, a DBS check could show any of the following:
You do not need to submit a self-declaration form, but please note the following important information:
If you do not submit a self-declaration form prior to applying for your DBS check, but your DBS certificate later reveals that you do have a criminal record, the University will treat this as a case of failing to declare relevant information: you will be subject to our DBS clearance procedures and will have to explain your failure to declare.
It is therefore far better that you tell us now if you are in any doubt about whether you have anything to declare: concealing information could be seen as worse than the offence itself and could jeopardise your place on the course.
This is a background police or criminal record check from countries other than the UK. As DBS checks can only cover time spent in the UK, applicants who have spent time outside the UK may need to obtain a ‘Certificate of Good Conduct’ of some kind from the country/countries in which you are now living or have lived. A ‘Certificate of Good Conduct’ is a generic term for a police or criminal records check from outside the UK; these will be called something different according to the country.
Please see our overseas criminal records checks information page for further detail on which applicants this affects and advice on obtaining the relevant document.
We hope you have been able to complete your DBS application online and submit your Self-Disclosure Form if you have a criminal record to declare.
Please refer to the sections below for more information.
For more information on our DBS clearance procedure, please see our DBS Policy
The Update Service makes DBS checks generally transferable, subject to certain conditions such as the level of check; the workforce(s) and Barred List(s) specified; and whether it was for a paid or a voluntary position. Detailed information about the Update Service and how to join is available at www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service.
It is your choice whether you register with the DBS Update Service, however, we encourage you to do so.
If you have any queries or have not received information about how to apply for DBS clearance contact your DBS Team.
For further information about your DBS application please view our frequently asked questions
Please see our https://www.cumbria.ac.uk/applicants/admissions---next-steps/dbs/frequently-asked-questions/ for further information about your DBS check.
