Support resources for DBS ID verification
Everything volunteers and ID verifiers need to know about digital or manual ID verification for DBS checks
We’ve now launched digital ID verification for volunteers in England and Wales needing to complete a disclosure check.
From today, volunteers can choose to verify their identity electronically for their Girlguiding DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) disclosure check, and won’t need to meet with an ID verifier.
Here you’ll find some resources to help you complete your digital ID verification if you choose this option. You'll also find more on changes to the manual ID (in-person) verification process.
How-to videos
Take a look at our how-to videos, which demonstrate everything you need to know about the digital ID verification process and updated manual ID verification process.
Digital ID verification
This 9 minute video covers:
- What digital ID verification is.
- What applicants will need to complete it.
- How to access and use the Atlantic Data Digital ID app.
- Adding your digital ID to your DBS application.
Manual ID verification
This 5 minute video covers:
- What manual verification is.
- What applicants will need to complete it.
- How to add your personal details to your application on the disclosures website.
- How to contact an ID verifier to request a face-to-face meeting.
Flowchart
We’ve created a flowchart that illustrates the steps involved in digital ID verification and manual ID (in-person) verification, if you’d prefer to meet an ID verifier instead.
Step-by-step slides
Find instructions on how to complete your DBS application using manual and digital ID verification:
- Manual ID verification step-by-step (.pptx, 1.7 MB).
- Digital ID verification step-by-step (.pptx, 3.6 MB).
For DBS ID verifiers, ID verifier coordinators & commissioners
DBS QuickStart guides for ID verifiers and county ID verifier coordinators
Our QuickStart guides explain how to use Girlguiding’s disclosure system for DBS disclosure checks. These have been created specifically for the manual ID verification process. These guides provide steps to updating the disclosure system, to confirm that you’ve completed a volunteer’s manual ID verification.
Support calls
In September and October we held support calls for ID verifiers, GO coordinators and commissioners in England and Wales. This was an opportunity to have your questions answered, learn more about support on offer, and see a demonstration of the digital ID verification process for volunteers.
If you couldn't attend one of the calls or would like to watch it back, please watch the recording below.
Questions you may have
Digital ID verification
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.
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.
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.
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, 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].
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.
You can find a DBS identity verification factsheet and general guidance on DBS digital identity verification on the gov.uk website.
Unfortunately, you do need a smart phone in order 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.
If you've not been notified by email, you should have received an SMS inviting you to log into your app to view its status. But we recommend keeping an eye in the app for an update, in case you've missed either notification or the email has gone into your spam folder.
If your digital ID has been issued, you'll need to complete the rest of your application for a DBS by sharing your digital ID to your application on the Girlguiding disclosures website. If it has been unsuccessful, you can either try again or choose to verify your ID manually with an ID verifier.
You can find further guidance on what to do next after your digital ID is (or isn't) issued in the resources on this page.
Manual ID (in-person) 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.
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.
ID verifiers
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.
During your meeting with a volunteer, if you discover inaccuracies in the volunteers personal details or ID document validation, you must cancel & restart the application.
You can do this in the same meeting so you'll not need to rearrange another meeting. Search for the applicant again via 'Applications', select 'Cancel application' and then 'Cancel & Restart application'. You'll then have the option to 'Complete here & Now' or to send the applicant a link to restart the process with the option to choose digital or manual ID verification.
In the disclosure system, if you're looking at an individual applicant you can see this under 'Applicant Details' or 'Audit Trails'.
If you'd like to see this information for your guiding area, you can see this within Reports. Within the progress reports, look for the 'Application Type' column. Digital ID will indicate that they're on the new process, but the 'Current status' column will confirm if they've began the process. i.e. Digital ID issued, Application submitted, LPF, Result received etc.
ID documentation
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.
If you don't have a passport (with or without biometric chip), 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. View the list of suitable photo IDs for digital ID verification.
See the list of accepted forms of ID for more information on what to use for digital and manual ID verification.
General
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.
Yes, we'll be resending the new link on 15 October to those who haven't started their application or ID check (between 3 June - 30 September).
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.
Additional support
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.
Can’t find what you’re looking for?
If you have any questions that aren’t answered in these resources, the Atlantic Data Digital ID app has a support section which includes a set of frequently asked questions.
Otherwise, you can contact our friendly membership systems team by email at [email protected]. By phone call on 020 7834 6242 then press option 1, 2, 1 then 2 for Girlguiding disclosure application queries.
The team are available by phone Monday – Friday 10am – 2pm.