New online system helps University make safer recruitment decisions

06 May 2016

The Compliance and Risk Office is leading on a project to launch a new University-wide online Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) system, which went live on 4 May

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) helps the University make safer staff, student, researcher and volunteer recruitment decisions and prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable groups, including children. DBS replaced the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA). The DBS system has traditionally been paper-based, prone to errors and certificates can take a number of weeks to come back.

The supplier of the new electronic system is called Atlantic Data. The School of Environment, Education and Development has used an earlier version of the Atlantic Data system very successfully for a number of years, as part of an extensive trial.

The new system will incrementally replace the paper-based systems used across the University and will provide for a simple, streamlined DBS application process with much quicker processing times; significantly reduced applicant error rates; the ability to track progress of applications (both by us and the applicant) and real-time online results for the University. Applicants will also have the option of undergoing their ID check at a Post Office local to them, rather than attending the University.