DBS Check Service

The safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults remains a top priority for TTA, and to this effect, we have made it a mandatory requirement for all our tutors to hold a valid Enhanced DBS certificate that is not older than 12 months, and additionally for all members to have signed up to the DBS Update Service.  

TTA provides access to the DBS Check Service through Checks Direct, who work with some of the country's leading employers and governing bodies for the provision of pre-employment and criminal records checks. 

We are happy to assist our individual members and a limited number of tutors working through our Corporate members to get and maintain their DBS clearances. For those tutors we accept on behalf of a Corporate member, we need the applicant to provide the Corporate Member’s membership number.

Due to the very high volume of requests from our Corporate members to process DBS applications for their Tutor’s, as a not for profit organisation, we have had to reconsider the boundaries of this benefit and have amended our policy as follows: 

With effect from 1st October 2021 -for Corporate members we will process ID documents for 20 of their tutors, per annum from their renewal date, at no charge. (Please note, the DBS Check fees are still payable on Checks Direct platform). Additional applications will be charged at £5.00 each.
DBS applications for Corporate tutors who are TTA members in their own right, will continue to be processed free of charge. 

Most Important: All Applicant must ONLY tick the box relating to Adult Tuition ONLY if they are tutoring VULNERABLE ADULTS otherwise tick NO.

TTA becomes the ‘watchdog’ in the process and will have full access to details submitted by the applicant who initiated the application process via the Checks Direct portal. The personal data provided during this process is held securely and treated in accordance with TTA's Privacy Notice.

Before you start an application, we recommend you go through the DBS Application Guidance from Checks Direct. Click here for the list of the acceptable list of ID documentation. 

Once you are ready to start an application, click here and select the certificate you are applying for.

The log in details are available on the member's intranet, Astute.

NB: Paying for your DBS Check on the Checks Direct portal is only the first step of the process; this does not guarantee you a DBS Certificate. To obtain your certificate, you must follow the whole procedure until you receive our confirmation email that the procedure is complete. If you fail to finalise your application, Checks Direct will delete it after 6 months without refunding. So, please kindly proceed with the detailed instructions we will send you.

Copies of your certified documentation has to be sent to TTA, preferably via email DBS@thetutorsassociation.org.uk as this will speed up the process. 

Please note that the cost of the DBS Check is NOT included in the membership fee. The cost of an enhanced DBS Check is currently £52 (price checked on the 15th of February 2021). 

Registration to the Update Service must be done within 30 days of your DBS certification. If your DBS check is older than a year, then you will need to reapply for a DBS in order to get onto the Update Service. A subscription to the Update Service lasts for one year.
 

You can renew your subscription through the Update Service, either:

• when you first register,  by choosing automatic renewal.
• up to 30 days after your DBS Check has been issued.

An additional fee of £13 a year is payable to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
More information is available on https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service.

If you do not renew your subscription before it ends, you will need to apply for a new DBS Check and register for the Update Service again.