Enhanced DBS price increase: How to boost your team’s efficiency

When the government announced a dramatic increase in fees for DBS checks beginning December 2024, lots of HR professionals had big questions about what it would mean for them. 

Patrick White, Zinc’s VP of Revenue, held a session to help attendees understand:

1. How this impacts their bottom line
2. How to jump over common bottlenecks in the Enhanced DBS process
3. Strategies for reducing the cost of background checking and increasing efficiency

Short on time? Keep reading for the highlights. 

Got a spare 45 minutes? Access the webinar on-demand here.

Types of DBS checks

There are four types of DBS checks:

1. Basic
2. Standard
3. Enhanced
4. Enhanced with barred list(s)

Each check is designed to be used for different roles, depending on the responsibilities and working location of the employee. Companies are restricted from ordering Enhanced with barred list checks for roles that aren’t applicable — that is, roles that don’t involve regular contact with children or vulnerable adults.

Want to know more about what types of DBS checks are available to you? Read our comprehensive guide to DBS checks. 

Why is my DBS application not processing properly?

The most frustrating part of submitting a background check is when it takes too long to come back, delaying start dates and piling more admin onto your plate. 

There are five stages to processing an Enhanced DBS with barring:

1. DBS application form
2. Police National (PNC) search
3. Children and adults barred list check
4. Local police force checks
5. DBS certificate printed

DBS checks are most likely to get stuck at Stage 1 and Stage 4. So, how can you prevent issues and speed up the process, making your team more efficient in the process?

Preventing DBS application issues in the first stage

Applying for a DBS check is often confusing, especially for candidates. Luckily, there are ways to make the process smoother and proactively lessen the chance checks will get stuck.

Problem 1: Making sure candidates submit the correct information on time.

If a candidate is slow to submit their documents or they have trouble navigating a clunky user interface, it’s likely that turnaround times will increase. Plus, if they can’t get support right away, they’re left confused.

‍Solutions:

1. Make sure the platform you’re using is fully optimised for mobile and accessible for candidates (not to brag, but Zinc is  pretty good at this). 
2. Send frequent texts and email reminders — bonus points if they’re automated
3. Use a branded interface to build trust and promote your employer brand - find a provider who can add your branding to grow that credibility. 
4. Make sure it’s easy to use and candidates can access support quickly
5. Where possible, let candidates reuse previously input information

Interested in a better DBS checking experience for candidates? Learn more about DBS checks with Zinc (and how we’re helping to absorb the cost increase).

Problem 2: Collecting identity documents

There are over 2,700 valid document combinations for an Enhanced DBS submission. With so many options, it’s essential to make sure candidates know what they need to provide.

Solutions:

1. Work with an Identity Service Provider on the UK digital identity and attributes trust framework with a high level of confidence (like Zinc)
2. Ensure the process is optimised for mobile submissions
3. Use a platform with built-in automated processes to reject blurry photos and incorrect documents
4. Make sure your platform is checking Right to Work at the same time
5. Make sure the platform is genuinely automated — not just an army of people doing the work on your behalf

Problem 3: Submitting to the umbrella organisation or the DBS

If you’re submitting documents yourself, the back and forth with documents can slow down the process. The more human touchpoints, the slower the results and more room there is for error. 

Solution:

1. Make sure your solution is automated as much as possible and candidates can self-serve with confidence

Problem 4: Navigating incorrect or unclear requirements for Enhanced DBS eligibility

The DBS often incorrectly rejects applications for Enhanced DBS checks because it doesn’t understand the full scope of the role and how it meets the requirements.

Solutions:

1. Add description to job titles (“Driver for children” vs “Driver”)
2. Use a pre-approved and pre-built application system like Zinc
3. Use an automated process that will resubmit as quickly as possible

Preventing DBS application issues with the local police force

Often the most common place where DBS submissions get stuck is with local police force checks. The reason? None of them talk to each other, and if your candidate has lived in more than one region the request will have to bounce through all the different local police forces before it gets returned. 

On top of that, each police force has varying processing times. Plus, name changes can slow the process down further. 

After 60 days of waiting, you can push for expedited processing. If it’s really urgent, Zinc’s Customer Service team has found a polite phone call to the local police station can sometimes speed up the process — but only in rare circumstances, so don’t overdo it. 

Why are DBS fees increasing?

Without much-needed modernisation, the DBS can’t continue to deliver the massive amount of checks requested — and the number keeps growing. 

In 2017, they processed 4.3 million checks. In 2024, that number grew to 7.4 million. 

Complaints to the DBS have risen by 22% in recent years, and the organisation says the fee increase will help improve the quality of service by funding the retirement of legacy systems. 

What’s the impact of fee increases for DBS checks?

Government fees for Enhanced DBS checks are increasing by over 30% as of 2^nd December 2024.

Combined with increases in National Insurance and minimum wage, it’s bound to have a big impact on employers in key sectors — including health and education. 

We asked our attendees what they thought the impact of the increases would be for them:

• 36% said they were worried about the fee increase
• 60% said they thought it would be tough, but their organisations would be fine
• 4% said they and others would absorb it comfortably

How are organisations responding to the DBS check fee increase?

We asked our audience how they planned to cover the increased costs:

• 57% said they’d invest in tech to help them save money
• 52% said they’d have to make cuts elsewhere
• 33% will raise prices for customers
• 14% would reduce hiring or expansion plans
• 14% said they’d have to make redundancies

If any of those sound familiar, you’re definitely not alone. Check out our blog on planning headcount if you’re reducing hiring, or find out how e-learning companies are streamlining their hiring process to meet demand while staying efficient.

Strategies for reducing the cost of your DBS checks

With the price increase, it’s important to find efficiency where you can. Automation is one of the best ways to make sure your team stays efficient and keeps costs low. 

Solutions:

1. Use the DBS update service as much as possible. 
2. Set up digital ID verification
3. Use pre-verified role titles
4. Make sure you have automatic chasing and an engaging candidate experience
5. Use a platform that offers instant submission and resubmission — no human required for processing
6. Integrate your background checks into your ATS/HRIS for security and reduced admin
7. Combine the automation with other checks to reduce human hours

Basically, automate everything you can to free up your team to tackle the chunkier issues. 

Case study: Home Instead 

When it came to background checks, Home Instead knew they were spending too much time on manual processes, preventing their team from adding value to the business.

Switching to Zinc allowed them to:

• Implement automated referencing, Right to Work, and ID checks
• Reallocate staff towards more valuable big-picture tasks
• Cut costs associated with background screening by 50%

All whilst giving them, and their candidates, exceptional customer service.

Want to learn more about how Zinc can help your business automate manual processes and combat the DBS price increases? Book time with us here. 

Watch the full webinar on demand here.

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