When a UK Basic DBS check is complete, you can view the results from the case’s case details page. The information in the report is populated as the checks in the case are completed.

Learn more about UK Basic DBS checks in this Certn Help article.

IN THIS ARTICLE

• Explanation of results - What happens when Identity Verification is pending
• Next steps - Requesting detailed results

Explanation of results

When you order a UK Basic DBS check and it is completed, there are two possible outcomes:

• Clear - No match found
• Review - Results found

The result is determined by whether or not relevant records were found. For Basic DBS checks, relevant records include convictions and conditional cautions considered to be ‘unspent’ under the terms of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Clear Results

If a Basic DBS check receives a clear result it indicates the certificate contains no criminal record information and the DBS response summary will be:

• "Certificate contains no information" (for clear results).

Review

If a Basic DBS check you order receives a Review result it indicates that the certificate may contain information and clients are advised to refer to the physical certificate. The DBS response summary will be:

• "Please wait to view applicant's certificate" (if criminal history is present).

If a Basic DBS check you order receives a Review result, you may want to contact the applicant and ask them to consider sharing the detailed results with you. Note that applicants do not always opt to receive a physical certificate. This means that even if your applicant agrees to share the results with you, they may need some time to obtain them. To learn about ways that applicants can receive detailed results of the check, refer to the Next steps section of this article.

What happens when Identity Verification is pending?

Completion of an identity verification check is required for UK Basic DBS checks. In some cases, applicants may be unable to successfully complete the digital identity verification check included in our UK criminal record checks. If this occurs, then you’ll be notified by email and within your CertnCentric portal that you need to carry out the identity verification check manually for your applicant. After you complete the manual identity verification, the criminal record check can resume processing.

Next steps

Review the check results from the case’s case details page by selecting My tasks from the left navigation, and then selecting the related case from the list.

Once you’ve reviewed the results of the UK Basic DBS check and any other checks in the case, you can record your decision concerning the case. See the Manage your cases Certn Help article for more information.

Requesting detailed results

As the client, you always receive a report showing a Cleared or Review result. However, your report does not contain a detailed listing of the relevant records found, if any. If you want to review the detailed results, you can ask your applicant to consider sharing them with you. Applicants have two options available for receiving detailed results of the check:

• Paper certificate: While completing our application, your applicant is asked whether or not they would like to receive a paper certificate. If they select ‘Yes,’ then they can specify any address to send it to. If they select ‘No’ and submit their application, then no paper certificate is made. To get a paper certificate after this point, a new background check would be required.
• Online access: The applicant can access and share their results online by creating an account with the Disclosure and Barring Service. After a Basic DBS check is processed, applicants receive communication directly from the Disclosure and Barring Service by letter or email that includes instructions for accessing and sharing results this way.