DBS Checks

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) helps employers make safer recruitment decisions and prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable groups, including children. They do this by searching police records and, in relevant cases, barred list information, before issuing a DBS certificate to the applicant.

Carrying out DBS checks is an essential part in ensuring that unsuitable individuals are not working in judo in the UK. British Judo insists on all individuals and clubs to obtain a DBS check before working with vulnerable groups and children.

Applying for a DBS check

This will enable the BJA to make safer decisions to prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable groups, including children and vulnerable adults.

We require full name of the applicant and an individual email address for each applicant alongside why you need a DBS such as Coach or Club Welfare Officer alongside your British Judo Membership Number (or equivalent Home Nations Membership Number).


Disclosure Managers

Please note that the nominators list going forward on the new system will be kept to very few individuals and access to the system is only granted to the following approved authorised nominators:


Support

Once you have received the link to your DBS application from a member of BJA staff and have any queries on the application process itself or are experiencing difficulties completing your application, please contact DBS@britishjudo.org.uk.

UPDATING A DBS CHECK

DBS checks have a lifespan of 3 years at which point they need to be updated.

The Update Service is an online profile which allows applicants to store multiple DBS Checks. This is beneficial for people who require multiple DBS checks for work, hobbies or charity work they may do. Organisations can carry out a quick online Status check, with consent, to see if an individual’s DBS Certificate is still up to date – saving you both time and money.

Once you have signed up to the Update Service you will never have to complete an application form again (subject to required workforce and level of the check).

Applicants have a six week window to sign up to the Update Service, 28 days prior to your application being submitted to the DBS and 30 days after the issue date on your Disclosure Certificate.

Every revalidation you will be required to complete a Consent to Perform a Status Check form to enable us to check your status online.

If your DBS checks holds new information, British Judo will request you to provide a copy of your Disclosure certificate from the DBS and follow the Positive Disclosure policy.

DBS FAQs

Q: Who requires a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check at my club?

A: All coaches and Club Welfare Officer’s (CWO’s) are required to have an enhanced check.

Any other member of a club who is in regulated unsupervised activity will be required to liaise with the Head Coach to determine if an enhanced DBS check is required. Further information on this can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/find-out-dbs-check/y

If you are applying to become a coach, you will need to have a DBS check done before you can receive your coaching qualification and a guide will be sent with your course confirmation letter.

Q: How can I make an application for a DBS check?

A: All applications are now done online using FADV KnowYourPeople. Please email DBS@britishjudo.org.uk to request a link stating your name alongside your British Judo Membership Number (or equivalent Home Nations Membership Number) and if you need a DBS for Coaching or for a Club Welfare Officer. Then you will be able to make and submit a DBS application. 

Please note, the following are also approved DBS nominators and can be contacted as follows:

Principal Contact – DBS – DBS@britishjudo.org.uk

Q: I already have a DBS check through work, can this be accepted?

A: Yes. If your DBS check is an enhanced check in an adult and child workforce or child workforce and you are signed up to the Update Service then you will need to complete a consent form to enable us to perform an online status check. If this is your first check for British Judo you will need to provide your original Disclosure Certificate.

Please see the Update Service user guide and the Consent form for more information about how you can share another DBS check with British Judo.

Q: What should I do when I received my Disclosure Certificate?

A: British Judo uses the online DBS checking system FADV KnowYourPeople and so applicants are no longer required to send the hard copy Disclosure Certificate to British Judo Head Office, unless they are requested to. 

For any DBS checks that are flagged as a concern, we will write to the applicant requesting the hard copy Disclosure certificate. You can find the full positive Disclosure process here.

If you lose your DBS certificate the DBS will not be able to issue a replace. If you never received your DBS certificate initially the DBS will reprint it for you. However, this can only be done with six months of the dated printed on the certificate.

Q: How long does a DBS check last for?

A: All DBS checks are valid for three years.

Q: How long does it take to obtain a DBS check?

A: A DBS check can take up to twelve weeks. However, normally it will be between one to three weeks.

Q: What if my DBS application is sensitive?

A: You can contact the DBS sensitive applications team if you’re a transgender applicant and you don’t want to reveal details of your previous identity to a potential employer, or if you have other sensitive issues around your application.

DBS Sensitive applications team
Customer services
PO Box 165
Liverpool
L69 3JD

Q: What if I have a criminal record and my DBS check comes back positive?

A: For information of the process for positive Disclosure Certificates and the British Judo recruitment of ex-offenders policy see below: –

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