The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) merged into the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). What used to be called a CRB check is now a DBS check. If you subscribe to the update service, one certificate can travel with you from family to family instead of being redone each time.
Every family and agency will ask to see it, and most will not consider you without one. It is worth understanding how the update service works, because it is the difference between paying for one check and paying for several.
Fees and phone numbers change. The figures below were correct when this guide was written but are not maintained here. Always check the current cost on gov.uk before applying.
Table of contents
What it means when registering with Ofsted
When registering online with Ofsted, they charge a fee and check all relevant documents. That information is then sent to the DBS.
If you have already completed a DBS application through a nanny agency, you do not need to do it again. Send the original certificate to Ofsted and they will check your details against it.
For the wider registration process, see how to register with Ofsted as a nanny and how to complete the CR1 application form.
The update service
For a small annual subscription you can keep your DBS certificate up to date and take it with you from role to role, where the same type and level of check is required. Depending on how many checks you would otherwise need, this saves a considerable amount of time and money.
How to subscribe: ask whoever submits your application for the application form reference number, so you can subscribe when you apply.
If you wait until the certificate arrives: you must subscribe within 14 days of the certificate issue date. After that you cannot register for the update service for that year, and you would need a new check.
Payment for the subscription is made securely by card from your account. The service is only available online.
Status checks
To let an organisation carry out a status check on your certificate, you give consent and show them your original DBS certificate. They record the certificate's 12-digit reference number along with your name and date of birth, then carry out the check online.
Keep your certificate safe. Employers and recruiting organisations need to see it, because the DBS no longer automatically issues a copy to the registered body that countersigned your application. That gives you greater control over your information, but it also means a lost certificate is a real problem.
Benefits for you and your employer
For you:
- Saves time and money. One certificate may be all you ever need.
- You can take your certificate from role to role within the same workforce.
- You stay in control of your certificate.
- No waiting for police clearance, as details can be viewed online.
For your employer:
- Instant online checks.
- No application forms to fill in.
- They may never need to apply for another check for that employee.
- Enhances safeguarding processes and helps reduce risk.
Common questions
Is a CRB check the same as a DBS check?
Yes. The CRB and ISA merged into the Disclosure and Barring Service, and CRB checks are now called DBS checks. If a family asks for a CRB check, they mean a DBS check.
Do I need a new DBS check for every family?
Not if you subscribe to the update service and the new role requires the same type and level of check. Without the update service, each new employer may require a fresh application.
How long do I have to join the update service?
You can subscribe when you apply, using the application reference number, or within 14 days of the certificate being issued. Miss that window and you cannot join for that certificate.
Does the update service work offline?
No. The service is only available online.
Who can see my DBS certificate?
Only people you give consent to. They need sight of your original certificate to carry out a status check, which is why keeping it safe matters.
Full guidance is on the DBS update service applicant guide at gov.uk.
Getting set up as a nanny or maternity nurse?
A DBS check, paediatric first aid and insurance are the practical essentials. The free checklist covers everything else you need before approaching agencies.