Support resources for DBS ID verification

For ID verifiers in England and Wales, introducing digital ID verification should make things a lot easier. You won’t need to contact or arrange to meet with an applicant unless they choose to have their ID verified in person.

As an ID verifier you’ll have access to a report in the disclosure system showing where applicants in your area are in the process. You'll be able to see this information regardless of assignment on GO, whether they’ve verified through digital ID verification or in person with an ID verifier, so you can still keep an eye on how things are progressing.

Commissioner's reports and views within GO will be unchanged and will still show volunteers' disclosure status regardless of which route they’ve taken. For those that request to verify their identity in person you’ll still need to assign an ID verifier to allow access to the volunteer’s contact details.

The in-person (manual) ID verification process for ID verifiers is now a lot shorter. Applicants will automatically receive an email from the system to start the process. They’ll enter their personal details and ID documents online first before they contact you or their commissioner. When meeting, you just need to verify a few details from the documents submitted and confirm the identity of the applicant. Find out more information and guidance about the disclosure check process.

If you're in an ID verification role, you would have received an email with more information on 27 September.

This role remains an important one, so thank you for everything that you do.

There are 2 ways you can verify your identity if you require a DBS check in England or Wales. You can use the digital ID verification process (see resources above for more on what that involves). If you'd prefer to meet in person, or don't want to complete the digital ID verification process, you can arrange to meet one of our ID verifiers in person.

Please choose whichever method you're most comfortable with - both options are valid! If you have access to a smartphone and are comfortable using digital tools, you may like to try the digital ID process. This will require you to download an app on your smartphone and scan your ID documents (such as a passport with biometric chip or photo card driving licence.)

However, if you'd rather meet someone in person, or are unsure about your ID documents, you might like to choose the in-person route. You'll complete your application and enter your ID documents yourself before requesting to meet with an ID verifier to review your documents and verify your identity for your application form. Find out more about ID documentation.

New and existing volunteers in England and Wales will have the option to verify their identity online themselves by applying for a digital ID. When invited to complete their DBS application, they’ll need to download an app to their phone or tablet device (if NFC is enabled). Through the app they’ll:

• Register their digital ID account.
• Scan their identity documents.
• Complete a liveness (selfie) check by taking a 3D scan of their face.
• Confirm their current UK address.
• Once completed, they can share their issued digital ID, linking it to their DBS application.

This process isn’t mandatory, and they’ll still have the option to choose an in-person (manual ID) verification process if they’d prefer.

Downloading the digital ID app, registering your profile and applying for your digital ID should take around 20 minutes. But in some cases, your digital ID may take a little longer to be issued. Once your digital ID is issued, you'll need to complete the remainder of your disclosure application form. Depending on how much information you need to declare (for example, name and address history) we estimate the whole process taking no more than 30 minutes.

See the list of accepted forms of ID for more information on what to use for digital and manual ID verification.

ID verifiers will no longer need to input the volunteer's ID document details to the disclosure system when meeting with them. Instead, the volunteer will do this themselves before meeting in-person. The details will then be verified by their ID verifier in person. ID verifiers will be assigned to volunteers in GO. If a volunteer chooses the manual ID verification route, they’ll also initiate contact with their ID verifier to start the process.

No - you'll always have the option to choose a different route for future checks. Your preferred route won't be saved. If you are unable to successfully obtain a digital ID, you'll be directed to complete the check via the manual process instead.

Unfortunately, the DBS doesn't allow applicants to use online documents from the internet, for example online bank statements.

For digital ID verification, you can print out an online statement and scan a full image of the document into the app.

For manual ID verification, when meeting with the ID verifier, you must provide original documents that have been received to your registered address. For that reason, you can't bring documents downloaded from the internet.

It may take a few tries to get this right but keep trying by following the instructions on screen. When scanning a passport, we advise trying this on different surfaces e.g. darker or lighter to ensure the app can capture the corners of your passport page and details. If you’ve tried several times and it’s still not working, contact [email protected] to check your passport type is accepted.

You can use other photo ID such as a photo card driving licence along with other documents to confirm your address like a utility bill.

Unfortunately, you do need a smart phone to use digital ID verification. This is because smartphones are equipped with NFC - a technology which allows you to make secure transactions and exchange digital information. It's the same technology which means you can tap to pay with your smartphone. If you don't have a smartphone, don't worry - you can still use the in-person (manual ID) verification route.

Yes, those that were due a check before 1 October and have the status 'Disclosure requested', can still meet with an ID verifier to complete and submit the old application format.

Anyone due their check from 1 October will need to complete the new digital or manual ID verification process.

As with the current process, your application status is reported back to GO by the Girlguiding disclosure system. The disclosure system receives information from the DBS after your application has been submitted to them and the disclosure system will update this information to your GO record as your disclosure application status changes i.e. New > In progress > Completed.

Yes, if they have photo ID such as a passport, 16+ PASS card or driving licence (provisional or full). If they don't have the correct documents, they can get in touch with the disclosures team at [email protected] who will be able to support them.

Remember, only young volunteers turning 18 just before or during residentials, where they'll be acting in the capacity of a volunteer, need to complete a disclosure check.

A disclosure check can only be created for these young volunteers when the event has been added to GO and the young volunteer has been added as a participant. If these requirements are in place, the disclosure can be added on the disclosure system by your county ID verifier coordinator or by emailing [email protected].

You can find a DBS identity verification factsheet and general guidance on DBS digital identity verification on the gov.uk website.

Atlantic Data, the company that provides the app involved in the digital ID verification process, handles personal data in compliance with GDPR. Data is processed and stored securely within the UK on in-house servers using SSL encryption and strict access control. Any data shared with third parties, like DBS or Experian, is solely for providing requested services. You can find out more on their data protection page.

Digital ID verification is only available for the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) used in England and Wales. The service isn’t offered by the providers of Access NI or Scotland’s Protecting Vulnerable Groups scheme (PVG). Unfortunately, that means that digital ID verification isn’t an option for those volunteering in Scotland, Northern Ireland, or overseas where alternative disclosure check processes are in place.

Our membership systems team will be able to help with any questions you have. Email [email protected] or call 020 7834 6242 then press option 1, 2, 1 then 2 for Girlguiding disclosure application queries.