DBS Check Taking Too Long? What Agencies Can Do Now
DBS check taking too long? Where checks stall, how to track and escalate, Adult First for care roles, and scripts to keep candidates and clients updated.
A DBS check taking too long is usually stuck at stage 4, where local police forces search their own records. At the time of writing, GOV.UK says a standard or enhanced check usually takes around 14 days, but longer if details are wrong or several police forces are involved. You cannot pay to speed it up, but you can track it, escalate after 60 days, use Adult First for adult care roles and keep everything else moving.
Your candidate is ready, the client wants them on Monday, and the tracker has said "stage 4" for three weeks. Here is what you can do.
In short:
- Most standard and enhanced DBS checks take around 14 days. Wrong details and several police forces are the main reasons for delay.
- Track the check online with the application reference number and the candidate's date of birth.
- After 60 days with a police force, you can ask online whether it can be sped up.
- For adult care roles, Adult First can usually confirm within 2 days whether a candidate can start under supervision.
- Use the wait to finish every other check, and keep the candidate and client updated on a fixed day.
How long should a DBS check take?
At the time of writing, GOV.UK says a standard or enhanced DBS check usually takes around 14 days. You cannot pay more to get a faster check.
That is a typical time, not a promise. Basic checks follow a shorter route, because they skip the barred list and local police stages.
What are the DBS stages, and where do checks get stuck?
Most long delays sit at stage 4, the local police search, because each force works through its own queue.
DBS sets out five stages in its guidance for employers:
| Stage | What happens | Where delays come from |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Application received and validated | The form is checked, then scanned in or returned to the countersignatory within 24 hours | Errors or gaps on the form send it back |
| 2. Police National Computer searched | Details are compared against the PNC | Incorrect or mismatched details |
| 3. Barred lists searched (where applicable) | Details are checked against the children's and/or adults' barred lists | Only applies to checks that include barred lists |
| 4. Police records searched | Enhanced checks go to local police forces for a further search | Several forces, address history, police workload |
| 5. Certificate printed | The certificate is printed and posted to the candidate | Post, or a wrong address |
The certificate goes to the candidate, not to you. You then ask them to show it to you so you can check it is genuine.
Why is your DBS check taking too long?
Most delays come from one of four places: the form, the candidate's ID, the number of police forces involved, or a step that has not happened yet.
The form has errors or gaps
A missing address, a wrong date or a name that does not match the ID all cause problems. DBS says missing or incorrect information flags a "conflict", which will increase the length of time the check takes.
The candidate's ID could not be verified
DBS guidance explains that if identity cannot be verified through the standard routes, a review may delay the whole process. A candidate who cannot provide the required documents may need fingerprinting, which adds further delay.
Several police forces need to search
A candidate who has lived in several areas may need checks by more than one force. Police guidance notes performance also varies month by month.
It has not actually reached DBS yet
Often the candidate has not finished the online form, the ID check is not done, or a countersignatory has not submitted it.
How do you track a DBS check?
You track a standard or enhanced check online, using the application reference number and the candidate's date of birth.
DBS offers a free online tracking service, and a registered body can track multiple applications at once. If you use an umbrella body, ask them, as they hold the account.
Note the stage and date on the candidate's record each time. "Stage 4 since 2 October" is far more useful to a client than "it's with DBS".
Can you escalate a DBS check that is taking too long?
Yes, once it has been with a police force for more than 60 days.
At that point, the DBS police guidance says you can submit a request online to check whether the application can be sped up. You can also call DBS on 03000 200 190. See the police role in the DBS checking process for the link.
Before 60 days, there is no faster lane. You control the quality of what goes in. Check names, dates and the full address history with the candidate before submission. DBS also advises against amending the form without the candidate's agreement.
Can a care worker start before their DBS comes back?
Sometimes. For adult care roles, DBS Adult First can usually confirm within 2 days whether the candidate can start work under supervision.
GOV.UK says that if you provide care services for adults, for example in a care home, you can use DBS Adult First. At the time of writing, it costs an extra £6. The result says either that the candidate can start, as long as they are supervised, or that you should wait for the enhanced check.
DBS's employer guidance sets three conditions:
- The position must require a criminal record check by law.
- The position must be eligible for a check of the adults' barred list.
- The adults' barred list check must be requested on the application form.
Adult First is only the first part of the check, and the full certificate still follows. Clients and frameworks often have their own rules on supervised starts, so agree it with the client in writing. For care staffing more broadly, see our social care staffing page.
Does the candidate already have a DBS certificate you can use?
Possibly. If the candidate subscribes to the DBS Update Service, you can run a free status check on their existing certificate.
The DBS Update Service covers standard and enhanced certificates only. At the time of writing, it costs the candidate £15 a year. They must register within 30 days of the certificate being issued, or during the application using the form reference number ("form ref").
To run a status check, you must be legally entitled to do the check and have the candidate's permission. It is free and instant. The certificate must also be the right level and workforce.
Ask every candidate to register with the form reference number now, so the next placement does not mean another wait. Our DBS checks for agency workers guide covers levels and portability in more detail.
What can your agency do while the DBS check is pending?
You can get everything else ready, so the DBS certificate is the only thing left on the day it arrives.
| You can | You cannot |
|---|---|
| Complete the right to work check, which your agency is responsible for as the supplier | Pay DBS to make a check faster |
| Collect references, training certificates and ID | Ask for a speed-up before 60 days with a police force |
| Book induction and mandatory training | Change the form without the candidate's agreement |
| Use Adult First for eligible adult care roles | See the certificate before the candidate shows it to you |
| Check the Update Service if they already subscribe | Place them in a role that needs the check without the certificate, or a permitted Adult First result with supervision |
| Agree a provisional start date with the client | Promise the client a fixed date |
For right to work, follow the Home Office employer's guide, updated on 1 October 2026.
What should you tell the candidate and the client?
Tell both of them the stage, what you are doing, and when they will next hear from you, then stick to that day.
Silence loses candidates and clients. Adapt these scripts.
To the candidate: a weekly update
Hi Sam, quick update on your DBS. It's at stage 4, where local police check their records. This is the slowest part and nothing is wrong. I'll check again on Friday and message you either way. Everything else for your placement is done.
To the candidate: checking details
Hi Sam, a wrong address or date is the most common reason a DBS gets held up. Can you check the addresses on your form match where you've lived, with the right move-in dates? Just reply here.
To the client: a status update
Hi Priya, an update on Sam for the Monday start. Right to work, references and training are complete. The DBS is at stage 4, the local police search, since 2 October. I'll update you on Friday. If it isn't back, I'll offer you a confirmed alternative for Monday.
To the client: proposing a supervised start
Hi Priya, Sam's enhanced DBS is still with the police. Sam has a DBS Adult First result confirming they can start under supervision. Would you be able to supervise Sam until the full certificate arrives? If so, please confirm by email and we'll book the first shift.
Where does Amy fit?
Amy, our AI document agent, chases candidates for the rest of their compliance documents over WhatsApp and email while the DBS is pending. Candidates get no portal and no login. Candidates have a conversation, answer in the thread and send photos of what is missing. Amy checks each document, chases only what is still outstanding, and files accepted documents to the candidate's record in your ATS. That way, the certificate is the last thing you are waiting for.
Frequently asked questions
How long does an enhanced DBS check take?
At the time of writing, GOV.UK says standard and enhanced DBS checks usually take around 14 days. They can take longer if the details given are incorrect or several police forces need to search. You cannot pay more for a faster check.
What does stage 4 of a DBS check mean?
Stage 4 means an enhanced check has gone to local police forces to search their own records, and it is where most long delays happen. If it has been with a police force for more than 60 days, you can ask DBS online whether it can be sped up, or call 03000 200 190.
Can someone start work before their DBS check comes back?
For adult care roles, DBS Adult First can confirm, usually within 2 days, whether the person can start under supervision. The position must legally require a check and be eligible for the adults' barred list. The full certificate still follows, and supervision stays in place until it arrives.
Can a candidate reuse a DBS check from another job?
They can if they subscribe to the DBS Update Service and the certificate is the right level and workforce. With their permission, you can run a free status check online. Basic checks cannot be used with the Update Service.
Stop the DBS being the only thing anyone is chasing
If your consultants spend the wait chasing references, ID and training certificates, book a call. We will show you how Amy collects the rest while the DBS is pending, using your ATS and your voice.
Please note: this article is general information, not legal advice, and was correct at the time of writing (October 2026). Rules and guidance change, so please check the latest guidance from the Disclosure and Barring Service and GOV.UK before relying on it.