Higher-education platform built for transparency and compliance helps institutions strengthen student confidence and safeguarding processes.
Universities are under growing scrutiny over how they manage Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for students undertaking placements in regulated settings such as education, health and social care. What was once a background administrative process is now a central part of safeguarding and institutional accountability.
At Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), the applicant services team has adopted a new, higher-education-specific approach in partnership with Complete Background Screening (CBS). The collaboration has not only improved compliance oversight but also made the process clearer and less stressful for students.
“CBS has been a godsend for my team,” said Sean Rowlatt, Senior Admissions Manager at ARU. “They’ve lifted the heavy admin burden and given us the confidence that every check is being handled properly with a reliable audit trail. Working with CBS we achieved nearly 90 per cent clearance in our first full cycle - the best we’ve ever seen - with average turnaround in just 48 hours. That’s freed our team up to focus on supporting students, while giving applicants a smoother, less stressful journey into placements.”
ARU screens more than 2,500 applicants a year for courses where DBS clearance is mandatory. Before partnering with CBS, the process was often fragmented across systems and reliant on manual tracking. CBS introduced UniPro, a platform developed specifically for universities to bring together ID capture, right-to-work validation, consent management and real-time progress tracking in one secure space.
Rachel Bedgood, CEO of CBS, said that for most universities, the main issue is not how fast checks can be completed but how confidently they can demonstrate compliance.
“Placements can’t go ahead without DBS clearance, but the real challenge isn’t just speed - it’s trust,” she said. “Universities need visibility, students need clarity and teams need expert support behind them. UniPro delivers that combination of reliable technology and human partnership.”
The approach also comes at a time of change. The Disclosure and Barring Service introduced new ID-checking guidance in April 2025, with full compliance required by 1 November 2025. The update changes acceptable documents and verification routes for Basic, Standard and Enhanced checks, increasing pressure on higher-education institutions to maintain up-to-date, auditable processes.
By integrating CBS’s digital-first verification and ARU’s own automation bot “Angela”, the university has reduced administrative workload and improved record consistency. Staff describe the process as “calmer, more transparent and easier to manage”, while students benefit from clearer instructions and real-time status updates.
ARU’s experience reflects a wider trend across the sector. As universities prepare for tighter safeguarding reviews and more complex placement pathways, tools that combine auditability, data security and human guidance are becoming essential to protecting both students and institutional reputation.
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