After you have completed part 1, we will send you an email containing a web address, username & password to complete your DBS application online. We can only do this once you have provided sufficient acceptable identity documents, so you must follow-up any queries on this (e.g. missing documents) quickly.
This email comes from an address ending ‘…@cumbria.disclosures.co.uk’ so please look out for this – it may go into your spam folder. If you do not receive this email please let us know. Please read the DBS guidance before you start the online form: there is important information in here.
You must do the online application promptly as DBS checks can take some time to be completed.
Important: Self-disclosure of any criminal record
As part of the DBS clearance process you may also need to submit a self-disclosure form as detailed in Part 1. Should you have any queries or concerns about this please email the DBS Team. Please note that the law in this area has recently changed (as of May 2013).
As of the above date, certain old and minor offences will be removed from your record after a designated time period: this depends on the type of offence (whether it was a conviction or a caution/reprimand/warning), and on how old you were at the time of the conviction or caution / reprimand / warning. This is known as ‘filtering’.
Cautions/reprimands/warnings:
If you were under 18 at the time of the caution, these will be filtered (removed) if: 2 years have elapsed
If you were over 18 at the time of the caution, these will be filtered (removed) if: 6 years have elapsed
Convictions:
If you were under 18 at the time of the conviction (not the offence), this will be filtered (removed) if: 5.5 years have elapsed
If you were over 18 at the time of the conviction (not the offence), this will be filtered (removed) if: 11 years have elapsed
You can also refer to this detailed government guidance.
Please note that offences will never be removed if:-
- you have multiple offences on your record
- the offence appears on a list of designated offences that are more serious or of a certain nature (e.g. some drugs related offences; violent offences; most sexual offences)
- if you received a custodial sentence for the offence
Applicants with any criminal record to declare
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 (e.g. in 5 years’ time, or when you turn 18). 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.
No criminal record to declare
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.
Certificate of Good Conduct
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.
