Beginning Spring 2013, a service will be launched that the Home Office says will save time and cut the burden of bureaucracy that volunteers currently face when they apply for work in different roles. Individuals will only have to apply once to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for a certificate and then with consent, organizations will be able to use an online service for an instant check to find out whether the document is still valid. At the moment, a person who has been screened to volunteer in a school needs to have a separate check before helping out a different group. The changes also affect people who need to be vetted for their jobs, such as doctors and agency workers, who often need new checks when moving posts or changing agencies. Volunteering campaigners have welcomed the move, as unpaid workers will be able to use the online service for free when they apply for different opportunities. For paid employees, there will be an annual subscription fee.
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