Find My Lighthouse

DBS for Applicants

How it works

If you require a DBS you will be sent an email from your respective Lighthouse with a link to the form.

If you're expecting to fill in the DBS form and do not receive an email from us regarding a DBS then please email your Lighthouse at [LIGHTHOUSE_NAME]@lighthousecentral.org.

Tips for filling in the form

Common errors are highlighted below in red.

Your application will be printed onto a DBS form and sent to you together with further instructions on how to complete the application process with an identity check.

Instructions for filling in the on-line form

Organisation

Please select the appropriate organisation from the drop down list.

About you

  • Enter your title, surname and forenames in the boxes provided. Enter ALL forenames, not just the one you are known by.
  • Indicate whether you have been known by any other names previously using the drop down box.  If you are a married woman and are no longer using your maiden name you MUST answer 'yes'.
  • If you select 'yes' then you must provide all the names you have been known by since birth and for each name you must ensure that both the forename and surname field are completed. You must also provide the from and to dates of each name used using the MMYYYY format, i.e., do not enter the month by name, only number - for JULY you must enter 07 etc.
  • If you are using two names concurrently, for example, for professional purposes, then you must enter the primary name in the first name field, answer yes to the question 'Have you ever been known by any other name(s)?' and enter your secondary name in the name field below with the current date in the 'to' field.
  • If you were adopted before the age of 10 you do not need to provide your name at birth.
  • If you require further space for your names then please email admin@lighthousecentral.org giving the names and dates, from and to. A continuation sheet will be completed and sent out with your DBS application form.
  • Select your gender male/female from the drop down box.
  • Enter your date of birth using the DDMMYYYY format, for example 01022011 (1st February 2011).
  • Enter the town of your birth and the country.
  • Enter a contact phone number and an email address where you can be contacted.
  • If you have a National Insurance Number select 'yes' and enter the number.
  • If you have a UK Driving Licence Number select 'yes' and enter the number. UK Driving Licences include the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. Foreign licence information is not required.  The driving licence number required is the long 18 digit number on your licence which will begin with the first five letters of your surname.
  • If you have a valid passport enter the number, nationality and country of issue.
  • Select yes/no if you have a Scottish Vetting and Barring Number. If the answer is 'yes' then please enter the number.

Current Address

  • The DBS require a complete five year address history.
  • If you have lived overseas during the past five years you need only write OVERSEAS, the country in which you were living and the dates you were there.
  • If you have been of no fixed abode during the past five years, or have been travelling within the United Kingdom you should write NO FIXED ABODE or TRAVELLING in the first line of the address section, followed by the town/city in which you were living and the dates you were there.
  • British Forces Post Office (BFPO) addresses only require the BFPO number and the dates you lived at the address.
  • If you have lived or worked on a ship, include the mooring address of the vessel for the period you were aboard.
  • If you have lived at a protected address or a refuge you should only supply the address WITHOUT making reference to the nature of the address.
  • If there is not enough space on the electronic application form for your complete five year address history please give a 'to' date which is more than five years then contact admin@lighthousecentral.org giving the correct details and any additional addresses.

A note for students/Travelling Employees/Medical Staff

  • You can use your home address as your permanent address, for example, your parents' house, where you normally live when not away (this is the address your certificate will be sent to).
  • You should then enter all of your term-time addresses in other addresses, giving the dates, from and to.
  • If you have lived at your home address for less than five years you will still need to record your home address history for the past five years.
  • If you are still living in your student accomodation at the time of your application write the month and year of the application in the 'date to' field.
  • The DBS will use your permanent (home) address to fill in any gaps between (student) accommodation.
  • If there is not enough space on the electronic application form for your complete five year address history give a 'to' date which is longer than five years then contact dbs@lighthousecentral.org giving the correct dates and any additional addresses. These will be added to a continuation sheet which will be sent to you with your DBS application form.

Criminal Offence

If you have received confirmation from the police that a repealed offence has been removed from the PNC, you do not need to factor this offence into the answer you give. A repealed offence that has been removed from the PNC will not appear on the DBS certificate.

Question e55 on the DBS application form should now read "do you have any unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings".  If you require any further information on this please follow the link https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/240164/Filtering_guidance_v1_5.pdf

Update Service

When you receive your DBS application form you will see a long number, beginning with F in the top right corner, this can be used to sign up to the Update Service.  Also, once you receive your Certificate from the DBS you have 14 days from the date of issue to sign up to the Update Service, using your Certificate number.  This service is free of charge to volunteers and will enable you to take your Certificate from role to role, as long as it is within the same workforce and same level of check. To register for the service please go to www.gov.uk/dbs.

Tracking an Application

You can track your application by going to www.gov.uk/dbs.  You will need the long number beginning with F which can be found at the top right of your DBS application form.