If you are an Enhanced DBS applicant who has resided in another country for more than six months within the past ten years, you are also required to complete an Overseas Criminal Record Check, processed via APCS.
Policy, procedure, fact sheets and templates for the full Safer Recruitment process are on our Policies, Guidance & Resources page.
How to initiate an Overseas Criminal Record Check
The Recruiter/employer must contact the Chelmsford DST to initiate the process. Email safeguarding@chelmsford.anglican.org. The cost depends on the country/countries involved and will be the responsibility of the PCC.
Information required to obtain a cost estimate
Please provide the following details so we can quote a cost:
- Title (Mr, Mrs, etc.)
- Surname
- First name
- Middle name(s)
- Date of birth
- All overseas cities and countries where the applicant has resided since the age of 18
- Whether the applicant held citizenship in any of those countries
- Applicant's email address
- Church role(s) being applied for
The process
- If the PCC decides to proceed with the appointment, contact us and we will email an invoice. The Overseas Criminal Record Check will not commence until payment is received. Please let us know once payment has been made to avoid unnecessary delays.
- Once payment is received, we will arrange the check via APCS and email the applicant directly (copying in the Recruiter) with a form to complete.
- The applicant must complete the form and return it to APCS with the required identity documents as explained in the email. It is the applicant's responsibility to do this as soon as possible.
- APCS will commence the check on receipt of the completed form. Results are usually provided within 5–10 working days, but can take up to 21 days.
- We will notify the Recruiter of the results accordingly.
Certificates of good conduct
The Recruiter/employer should also try to obtain a certificate of good conduct from overseas candidates/applicants.
Either the Recruiter/employer or the candidate/applicant should obtain a certified translation of the certificate of good conduct.
If such information is not available from the embassy or if there are concerns about the reliability of the information provided, extra care should be taken when taking up references and checking previous employment records. Additional references should be sought and at least one previous employer should be contacted by telephone as well as in writing.