ID Verification And Its Rules

All DBS applications will need to undergo an ID verification to confirm the applicant’s identity. This process will need to be carried out by the employer and the applicant will need to be present.

The employer must ensure they do the following:

• Follow the three- route ID checking process which can be found here
• Check and validate the information provided by the applicant
• Establish the identity of the applicant through the examination of documents produced
• The applicant must provide all names by which they have been known
• The applicant should provide all addresses where they have lived in the last five years
• Check the application is fully completed and contains all correct information. Failure to do this will result in delays.

The identification verification must be completed face-to-face. If this is not possible then the alternative method would be an invitation to a video link meeting via Face time or Skype.

In both circumstances the applicant must provide original documents to the employer. If proceeding down the virtual route, the applicant must have sent the original ID documents before the time of meeting and must be checked for their authenticity when you are live with the applicant.

Please note that if an applicant is presenting the documents in person, please ensure they are not scanned copies and are the original documents.

The employer must ascertain if there are any risks involved via video link and these must be assessed and mitigated.

If an employer discovers that the documents may be subject to fraud or there are any errors or discrepancies, these need to be clarified immediately. The employer must not amend the applicant’s application without their consent. If an application is amended without consent, it will invalidate the declaration made by the applicant and may breach data protection legislation.

Care Check employer’s guide; verifying ID face to face

• You must only accept original, valid and current documentation
• No photocopies are accepted
• You must not accept documentation printed from the internet i.e. internet bank statements
• You should primarily obtain photographic documentation such as a passport or driving licence as this will confirm the applicant’s identity.
• One document must confirm the applicant’s current address
• Please confirm with the applicant that their five-year address history is correct.
• You should not accept the foreign equivalent of an ID document if that document is listed as ‘UK’ on the list of valid identity documents
• The applicant must attempt to provide ID documents from Route 1 before proceeding via route 2 or 3
• A document from each group should only be included once in the document count e.g. two bank statements are not permitted if they are from the same bank