DBS – Common Form Filling Mistakes and How to Avoid Them.
Filling out Disclosure & Barring Service forms correctly can be a tricky task, with small mistakes often leading to delays or the need for resubmission.
To help you, BAND have compiled a list of the most common errors made when completing forms, along with simple solutions. By following these tips, you can ensure your application is accurate and ready for processing.
Mistake/Issue |
Solution |
|
Blue ink is used to complete an area of the form |
All areas of the form must be completed in BLACK ink | |
Capital letters are not used in all areas of the application form |
All answers need to be in CAPITAL LETTERS – including email addresses | |
Middle name/s have been omitted from the form |
Ensure that all names are included – use a continuation sheet if needed – ID to be used to verify that all names are included. | |
Questions that are not relevant are answered with N/A or similar |
If a question is not relevant, please leave it blank | |
Section Y is completed by the applicant or the applicant’s employer |
This section is for BAND to complete – please leave blank for us to fill in, completion of this section by anyone else will lead to a new form having to be completed. | |
The wrong country is entered on the form |
If you are entering a country that is within the United Kingdom e.g. England, Ireland, Scotland or Wales, this should be entered as the United Kingdom. | |
There is more than one character in a box |
Only write one character within each box | |
More than one selection has been made in one of the yes/no boxes |
Circle the correct selection to indicate the correct choice of answer | |
example: | ||
Your signature on the form is not within the box for Qe55 |
Ensure ALL of your signature is within the box | |
example: | ||
Addresses for the last 5 years have not been supplied |
All of the addresses lived in over the last 5 years need to be supplied, including any overseas addresses. If there is not enough room on the form, a continuation sheet needs to be used | |
example: | ||
One of the mandatory questions (those highlighted in yellow) have not been answered |
Ensure all yellow highlighted questions are answered fully with any necessary supplementary information – if you answer yes to a yellow question, you must supply the supporting information | |
example: | ||
Dates are entered incorrectly |
Section a4 – are month and year only if referencing names and name changes | |
example: | ||
Dates are entered incorrectly |
Section a14 For Date of Birth – this needs to be day, month and year | |
example: | ||
Dates are entered incorrectly |
Section b – all dates need to be month and year format | |
example: | ||
Dates are entered incorrectly |
Section e – date of signature needs to be day, month and year | |
example: |
||
The signature box on the continuation sheet is signed by the applicant or the employer |
This is for the registered person to sign (BAND) and should therefore be left blank when sending it in with the application. | |
example: | ||
The form reference number from the application is not included on the continuation sheet |
The reference number can be found in the top right hand corner of the application form, this needs to be entered at the top of both sides of any continuation sheet used. | |
example: | ||
The workforce that an applicant will be part of is not entered on the form |
Specify the workforce (adult, child or adult and child) below the position applied for on the application form in section x. | |
example: |
||
The verification box for ID has not been completed |
The verification of ID in Section a needs to be completed by the employer when they see the ID from the applicant – this verification of ID seen should also be reflected in the BAND 1 form and the tick list of ID docs. Only cross the boxes for the ID docs actually seen. | |
example: | ||
The verification box for ID has not been completed. |
The verification of current address in Section b needs to be completed by the registered person/employer when they see evidence of current address from the applicant – this verification evidence seen should also be reflected in the BAND 1 form and the tick list of evidence docs. | |
example: |
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