Not every background check happens inside Pinpoint. Some checks - like verifying a candidate against the DBS Update Service or completing a manual right to work check - need to be done outside the system. The Add manual check option lets you record the outcome of those checks against a candidate's order, so you have a complete audit trail without leaving Pinpoint.
When should I use this?
Use Add manual check whenever you've completed a check outside Pinpoint and want to capture the outcome against a candidate. Common examples:
A DBS Update Service check you ran directly on the government portal
A manual right to work check for a candidate who doesn't have a valid UK/Irish passport and can't provide a share code
An imposter check following a digital identity verification check
Any other check your compliance process requires that isn't offered as a digital check in Pinpoint
Manual checks sit alongside automated checks in the candidate's order, so the check tab shows a complete picture of what's been done - regardless of who ran it or where.
How do I add a manual check?
Manual checks are added to an existing order. You can't create a manual-check-only order from scratch - start by ordering at least one digital check for the candidate first, then add manual checks to that order.
Open the candidate's profile and go to the Background Checks tab, or open the central Checks page.
Locate the order you want to add the manual check to
Open the order's overflow menu (three dots) from the order card, or open the order drawer and use the header menu.
Select Add manual check.
Select the template/type of check you want to capture
Fill in the check details
Standard fields (for example on the Custom template) include:
Check name
Result - the outcome you're recording (select from the dropdown).
Date checked - the date the check was completed.
Checked by - the name of the person who conducted the check.
Comments - optional. Add any notes or context.
Attachments - optional. Upload supporting evidence such as scanned documents, screenshots, or PDFs.
Select Save to record the check.
Once saved, the manual check appears in the same table as any other check on the order, tagged with Manual in the provider column.
How do I view a manual check's details?
Select the manual check row in the order's checks table to open the check drawer. The drawer shows:
The details entered, such as check name, result, date checked, and checked by you entered
Any comments and attachments you added
Created by and created at - automatically captured when the check was added
The check drawer:
The results tab on the order:
Frequently asked questions
Do manual checks use credits?
No. Manual checks don't consume any credits or trigger any provider charge - they're a record of a check you've already conducted elsewhere.
Can I edit a manual check after I've saved it?
Not currently. To keep the audit trail intact, manual checks can't be edited or deleted after they've been saved. If you need to correct a mistake, add a new manual check with the correct details and use the Comments field on the original to explain the correction.
Can I save a manual check as a draft?
No, manual checks are saved as final records when you press Save. Only fill in the form once you have the details you need.
Can I add a manual check to a candidate who doesn't have an order yet?
No, manual checks are always added to an existing order, so you'll need at least one digital check ordered for the candidate first.
Who can add manual checks?
Anyone who can order background checks in your account can also add manual checks. There's no separate permission for it.
What file types can I attach?
Any file type supported by other file uploads in Pinpoint. Typical use cases are PDFs, images (JPG, PNG), and Word documents. Each attachment must be within the standard file size limit.
How is this different from adding a comment or attachment to an order?
Comments and attachments live on the order as a whole, not on a specific check. A manual check is a first-class record with its own name, result, date, and audit fields - so a candidate's check tab shows a complete picture of every check that's been done, whether digital or manual.
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