How can part of the DBS checks process be automated?

For many employers and employees, DBS checks are a tried, tested and accepted part of the onboarding process. They’re an excellent way for employers to make sure that they’re only hiring people who are right for the job, while also helping employees to be confident that their coworkers actually are who they say they are.

That being said, background checks can end up taking a long time, and can become an unwelcome delay for all parties involved. As a result, lots of organisations will be looking for ways to streamline the process, typically through automation – let’s look at which parts can (and which parts can’t) be automated.

What can be automated?

There are certain parts of the DBS check process that can be automated quite effectively. 

Online identity verification

Perhaps the most commonly automated part of the DBS check process is ID verification. There are certified service providers that can automatically verify people’s identity for the purpose of Basic, Standard and Enhanced DBS checks, compliant with GPG45 government standards. 

All that’s needed is an approved document (such as a passport or driving license), a selfie video, and the system will be able to determine whether they are who they say they are. These are commonly used in a wide range of contexts nowadays, from banking to car hire, and are highly effective.

Progress tracking 

Another handy aspect that can be automated is progress tracking. By providing access to an automatically updated tracking portal, DBS check providers can reduce the number of progress update requests they need to process, reducing admin and saving time on both sides.

What can’t be automated?

There are other aspects of the check that can’t be automated, at least not yet.

Certain documents

In some cases, there will be documents that are required as part of the DBS check process that can’t be assessed automatically. Where checks start to become more complicated (such as where the documents that are available fall outside the standard requirements), then it may be necessary to pay more attention, and carry out the verification checks manually. 

Where there’s any doubt, it’s imperative that you consult with a specialist service provider such as Personnel Checks to make sure that you’re doing everything by the book.

Police checks for enhanced DBS

With enhanced DBS checks in particular, a common delay is the time it takes the police to complete the check. Unfortunately, there’s no way that this aspect of the check can be automated – the police have to manually scour the applicant’s criminal history, to make a judgment as to what should and what shouldn’t be included in the report.

While it’s important to improve the efficiency of things like DBS checks, it’s important to remember that they’re still highly regulated background checks that need to be done according to the book. Before choosing a seemingly promising solution, make sure that it’s legally compliant, and that it won’t end up causing far more complications than it’s worth.

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