Obtaining a DBS Check as a Private Tutor

In 2013, The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) merged together to form the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). As a result of this merge, old CRB checks are now called DBS checks.

DBS checks are required for certain jobs or voluntary work. For example, someone may need to undergo a DBS check in order to work with children, work in healthcare or to apply to foster or adopt a child.

To work as a private tutor, you don’t need to have a DBS check. However, it is recommended that you try to obtain one, which is often more difficult than it sounds.

In the UK, individuals can’t apply for DBS checks on themselves, so self-employed tutors who haven’t previously worked in childcare through a school or company, often find it difficult to get one.

In most cases, tutors who do have a DBS check have obtained one through a previous employer.

For those who don’t have one but wish to obtain one, there a few (less than ideal) options.

1. Apply for one through an umbrella body like a recruitment company (who will probably expect you to register for agency work).

2. Register with a private tutoring agency who will apply for one on your behalf.

3. Become a member of The Tutor’s Association, who arrange for members to have a DBS check for a small fee (in addition to TTA’s membership fee)

It’s generally acknowledged by tutors and the industry in general that these options are far from ideal and there has been talk on other websites of the Government making it easier for tutors to obtain DBS checks.

If your students are primarily adults over 18 years old, there is perhaps, less of a need to have a DBS certificate, although having one will give your tutees piece of mind.

Who Can Ask to see Your DBS Check?

As a tutor, you’re likely to be asked about DBS checks by parents. Although it’s not essential to have one, many parents specifically look for tutors who have been DBS checked.

From an employer’s perspective, companies aren’t usually allowed to ask job applicants about any previous convictions; however, for jobs that specifically require a DBS check, employers are allowed to enquire about spent convictions.

For more information on which roles require a DBS check, the DBS eligibility guidance lists most roles that are eligible for a check. However, the guidance isn’t comprehensive, and it’s advised that you should contact the DBS if you’re unsure

Who Can Apply For a DBS Check?

Employers can apply for a DBS check on behalf of potential or existing employees. However, individuals can’t apply for a DBS check on themselves and must be over 16 years of age.

A ‘basic disclosure’ is available for people who want to apply for a check on their own, which provides details of any unspent convictions.

Types of Criminal Records Check

There are 3 types of criminal records check. The employer or organisation requesting the check should provide the applicant with more information about what level of check is required.

1. Standard DBS Check

A Standard DBS check details spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings. It normally takes about 2 weeks for a standard check to process.

2. Enhanced DBS Check

Enhanced checks cost moreand include all details outlined in a standard check plus any additional information held locally by police forces that is considered relevant to the post applied for.

3. Enhanced DBS with list checks

An Enhanced DBS with list checks costs include all details outlined in an enhanced check plus a check of the appropriate DBS barred lists.

Further Information on DBS Checks

DBS checks for volunteers are free of charge. This includes anyone who spends time helping people and:

• isn’t being paid (apart from travel and other approved out of pocket expenses)

• isn’t only looking after a close relative

An employer can only apply for a check if the job or role specifically requires one. Employers must tell the applicant why they’re being checked and where they can get independent advice.

DBS checks don’t have an official expiry date. Any information included will be accurate at the time the check was carried out. It is up to an employer to decide if a new check is needed.

Applicants and employers can use the DBS update service to keep a certificate up to date or carry out checks on an existing certificate, for example, for a potential employee.

For more information on DBS checks, visit Gov.ukhttps://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/disclosure-and-barring-service

Action – Consider the three options above for obtaining a DBS check

Although it’s not essential to have a DBS check, it is highly recommended, especially if you intend on tutoring students under the age of 18. Take a look at the three options for obtaining a DBS check above and decide which is the most practical for you. Although the current system is far from ideal, a DBS check can help you secure more work as a tutor.

What skills/Qualities Make a Good Private Tutor?

If you're considering becoming a private tutor, it's important to ask yourself if you have the personal qualities needed to work with students. Generally, tutors should be friendly and approachable yet maintain a professionalism that reassures students and parents that they're good at what they do.

It's important to have patience and to have a genuine interest in working with younger people or those looking to learn a new skill. If you have the ability to motivate people and approach new challenges with enthusiasm, then working as a private tutor can give you great job satisfaction.

At least once a week, we receive an email from someone asking whether they have the knowledge and skills to become a private tutor.

In most cases, it's clear that they already have the knowledge but knowing over email whether they have the skills to work one-to-one with students is pretty much impossible.

Having good subject knowledge is one thing but having the skills to explain complex theories and processes is another.

Classroom teachers for example, may have all the skills needed to manage a class of 20+ students but an entirely different skillset is required to tutor in a one-to-one environment.

Similarly, someone new to private tutoring may already have all the practical knowledge needed to tutor but having the soft skills required to explain things clearly may be another matter. This post aims to act as a response to all those emails I receive every week about what skills are needed to be a successful private tutor.

Adaptable Communication

Above all else, having strong communication skills will serve you well as a tutor. Anyone can make learning sound complicated but it takes someone with good communication skills to explain complex theories in simple terms.

As a tutor, it's part your job to be able to identify your students' learning styles and adapt your teaching methods to suit. For example, some students are visual learners and tend to remember information that's presented in tables or charts. Whereas other learners feel they're more effective when using technology.

In any case, a private tutor should be prepared to adapt their communication style to suit their students, not the other way around.

Patience

Just as learning a new subject can be challenging, so can having the patience to explain new concepts and processes.

Rarely do we completely understand new ideas the first time round and sometimes it takes several different types of explanation for us to fully grasp a concept.

As a tutor, it's important that you set your expectations about how long it might take students to get their heads around new ideas.

Although it can to be tempting to push forward with your lesson plans regardless, your students will ultimately benefit more in the long run if you take the time to address any issues as they arise.

Interpersonal Skills

Whereas tutors need to deliver information clearly and accurately, they need to do so in a personable way if students are to feel relaxed enough to ask questions.

One way to help students get on board with your teaching is to share bits and pieces of personal information with them. Sometimes breaking down the teacher-student barrier is necessary to get the best out of your learners

Showing your human side can help students relate to you and what you're teaching. It shows them that if you can do it then they can do it too with a little practice.

It's easy for students to assume that because you're a tutor that you must have an increased capacity for learning. By using your interpersonal skills, you'll help your students realise that their ability to learn is actually about how much they commit themselves to what they're studying.

Organisational Skills

Being organised in your lessons reassures students that you have the ability to help them achieve their goals. Like classroom teachers, tutors should always have a lesson timetable and individual lesson plans to help map out what needs be studied, when.

The following information is more relevant if you are growing your tutoring business and are looking after multiple tutors.

‘TutorCruncher–ausefulorganisationtoolfortutors’

One of the most commonly overlooked aspects of working as a private tutor is how much organisation it takes to keep on top of administration. Not only do you need to have lessons plans and schedules but you also need to be on top of student

‘TutorPanel–agreatwaytokeeptrackofyourlessons’

The last couple of years have seen an increase in the number of work scheduling software tools for private tutors and they really do make all the difference. For a small fee each month, tutoring software can help organise your lessons and handle the administration involved in running a private tutoring business.

Two of the UK'S leading tutoring software providers are TutorCruncher and TutorPanel.

Information Technology

Younger students in particular, are generally well up to speed when it comes to technology, and as a tutor, you should be too. Being able to send emails, use apps, work on mobile devices and use virtual classrooms is all par for the course as a tutor nowadays.

Students expect lessons to be transferrable to digital devices, so they can learn on the go, whenever it's convenient for them. Where possible, try to create digital versions of all your materials and lesson notes to make them easily accessible to students whenever they need them.

Action – Get yourself organised

Although this book may not be able to help you develop all of the qualities above, it certainly can help you get more organised in your approach to tutoring. Take a look at the free resources that we’ve included with this book and modify them as you see fit. Each resource will prove really useful as you secure your first student and should save you hours of time creating your own paperwork and resources from scratch.