The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) has launched its 2025 Employer Feedback Survey to collect feedback from businesses and organisations that use DBS services for recruitment and employment activities.
The survey has been designed to understand employer satisfaction with DBS services, the value that DBS certificates and barred lists offer for recruitment activities, and identify areas where DBS can improve its services.
How DBS uses your feedback
DBS actively uses employer feedback to improve its services.
Feedback from last year’s survey revealed that over a quarter of employers found the barring referral process difficult. In response to this, DBS has launched new workshops on DBS checks and barring functions, tailored for both new and experienced staff to ensure accurate customer guidance.
DBS has also introduced a ‘Save and Return’ feature, allowing users to securely save their work and return to it later, making completing a barring referral easier and more convenient.
When the last employer survey revealed that some applicants struggle to provide relevant ID documents, and employers recommended a review of current ID guidance, DBS refreshed its ID guidance to make it easier to understand and use for both applicants and organisations conducting DBS checks.
These improvements demonstrate how employer feedback directly shapes DBS services, making your participation in this year’s survey valuable for future enhancements.
This year’s Employer Feedback Survey will be key in identifying areas where DBS is excelling, to ensure high standards are maintained, as well as identifying areas where improvements are needed so resources can be allocated effectively.
Providing feedback is an important part of affecting change. If you feel any part of your experience with DBS could have been improved, DBS would like to hear about it. Similarly, DBS is interested in hearing about positive experiences, as this provides important insight into which processes are working well.
Who should complete the survey
The survey is intended for employers who use DBS products and services for recruitment or employment activities. This includes anyone who uses Basic, Standard, or Enhanced DBS checks, or the Update Service, or makes Barring Referrals.
DBS would like to hear from employers of all backgrounds and characteristics across different sectors and organisation sizes. Whether you use DBS services regularly or occasionally, your perspective is valuable.
Sharing the survey
DBS encourages employers to share this survey with colleagues or anyone who has an interest in providing feedback about their experience with DBS services. The more comprehensive the feedback, the better DBS can understand employer needs and priorities.
Take the survey
You can complete the 2025 DBS Employer Feedback Survey by following this link:
The DBS Employer Survey 2025
The survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete and is completely anonymous.
The survey is open now and DBS encourages all employers who use DBS services to participate and help continue improving services for other businesses and organisations.
