Getting an enhanced DBS check
If your club is registered with Ofsted (and you are the registered person) Ofsted will obtain an enhanced DBS check on you when you first register your setting. You are in turn responsible for obtaining appropriate DBS checks on your staff.
However, if you run an out of school club which is exempt from Ofsted registration you won't be checked by Ofsted, but at the same time you can't request an enhanced DBS check on yourself. (You can request a basic DBS check on yourself, but it is the enhanced DBS check that is appopriate for most situations in which you have sole responsibility for children.)
See more information about clubs which are exempt from Ofsted registration >
To resolve this problem for people who need to have an enhanced DBS check but can't obtain one through another route, the Out of School Alliance and Due Diligence Checking Ltd (DDC) have teamed up to bring you the OOSA Vetting Scheme. Membership of the OOSA Vetting Scheme is only open to OOSA members and is dependent on applicants having a satisfactory enhanced DBS disclosure. We request an enhanced DBS check on you as a condition of membership of the OOSA Vetting Scheme. In this way you can obtain an up-to-date enhanced DBS disclosure through us.
We offer one DBS check per organisation through your membership. If you require more than one DBS (for people who are not your employees), for example if there are multiple directors of a company, there is a £15 admin charge per DBS.
Joining the OOSA Vetting Scheme
You apply to join the OOSA Vetting Scheme by completing the application form below. After verifying that you are a current member of the Out of School Alliance, we will request an enhanced DBS disclosure for you through DDC who then handle the DBS application process on our behalf.
Please note, you MUST complete your application within 8 weeks or DDC will withdraw your application.
DBS application process
DDC will contact you via email in order to progress your application for an enhanced DBS disclosure. DDC will also take payment for your enhanced DBS check. The cost of the DBS fluctuates slightly but is around £60, which covers the fee set by the DBS and the DDC administration fee. This is for a paper application and secure ID verification
See full details about the DBS application process via DDC >
We offer one DBS check per organisation through your membership. If you require more than one DBS (for people who are not employees of yours), for example if there are multiple directors of a company, there is a £15 admin charge per DBS.
How the DBS process works:
- OOSA receive a request from a member to have a DBS conducted via our OOS VETTING SCHEME form.
- OOSA request an application from by uploading info to DDC.
- The application request goes to the applicant
- Applicant pays for the request and completes the online form
- The applicant will complete the digital route if eligible
- If the digital route passes the application, it will be sent to the DBS. Please note there is a fee of £16+VAT in additional to the DBS fee.
- If the applicant is not eligible for the digital route or it fails, the video call and posting documentation route will have an additional fee of £20.40 that is to be paid in addition to the £16+VAT + DBS fee.
- An application pack will be posted to the applicant
- Applicant will send their documents to DDC
- DDC will receive documents and arrange a video call
- Video call will be conducted
- Application will be processed and sent to the DBS
- Documents will be returned to the DBS.
Please also see the link for a full breakdown of fee’s DBS Check Costs - High End Service - Low End Cost
Membership of the OOSA Vetting Scheme
When you have received the certificate for your enhanced DBS disclosure, if its contents are satisfactory we will add you to the OOSA Vetting Scheme and send you a membership certificate via email. Membership of the OOSA Vetting Scheme continues for as long as you meet the following conditions:
- renew your enhanced DBS disclosure at least every three years
- notify us immediately if any incident or circumstance occurs that could affect your suitability to work with children
- maintain your membership of the Out of School Alliance
Your membership of the OOSA Vetting Scheme will be withdrawn if you are, or become, disqualified from working with children; if your DBS disclosure reveals that you are unsuitable to work with children; if you do not renew your enhanced DBS disclosure within the agreed time period; if your membership of the Out of School Alliance lapses.
Related articles
OOSA Vetting Scheme: DBS check
DBS checks: who needs them?
Setting up an activity club
Application to join the OOSA Vetting Scheme
To apply to join the OOSA Vetting Scheme, please complete the form below:

