On 17 September 2026, the Disclosure and Barring Service launched a public awareness campaign called Every Check Helps. For anyone working self-employed with children or vulnerable adults, this is one of the most significant pieces of news since the law changed in January.
The campaign has one central message, and it is refreshingly simple:
“They can get a DBS check. You can ask to see it.”
That message is aimed at parents and carers across England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man who hire tutors, sports coaches, music teachers, personal assistants and carers directly, rather than through an agency or organisation.
We think it’s an excellent campaign, and we want to explain why.
Why this campaign matters
When the rules changed on 21 January 2026, eligible self-employed workers and personal employees became able to apply for their own Enhanced DBS check for the first time, including Enhanced checks with Children’s and Adults’ Barred List information where the role qualifies.
It was a genuinely important reform. But a legal right that nobody knows about doesn’t change much in practice.
DBS research found exactly that. Many parents and carers still don’t know that eligible self-employed workers can obtain an Enhanced DBS check at all, and some feel uncomfortable asking to see one even when they’d like to.
That’s the gap the campaign is designed to close, and it’s the right gap to target.
The campaign points directly at the Umbrella Body route
One detail in the announcement deserves particular attention.
DBS has been explicit that parents and carers cannot apply for a DBS check on someone else’s behalf. Where a role is eligible, the self-employed worker or personal employee must apply themselves, through a DBS Umbrella Body.
Parents can then ask whether the person holds a certificate and whether they are willing to share it.
This is the part we’d most like people to absorb. A parent who tries to arrange a check for their child’s tutor will hit a dead end. A tutor who arranges their own check through a registered Umbrella Body can simply produce the certificate when asked.
self-employed-dbs.co.uk is a registered DBS Umbrella Body built specifically for that route.
What to look for when you ask to see a DBS certificate
Alongside the campaign, DBS has published guidance on what to check when someone shares a certificate. In summary, parents are encouraged to:
- Make sure they are seeing the original certificate, not a photocopy or a photo
- Confirm the certificate relates to the correct workforce — children, adults, or both
- Check the issue date, as certificates have no expiry but do become dated
- Understand how the DBS Update Service can provide extra reassurance about whether the information is still current
DBS is also clear that a certificate is one part of a wider picture, to be weighed alongside references, recommendations, qualifications, experience and personal judgement.
We’d echo that entirely. A DBS certificate is evidence, not a guarantee. It belongs in a proper decision, not instead of one.
What this means if you're self-employed
If you’re a private tutor, sports coach, music teacher, nanny or childminder, personal assistant or carer, expect to be asked more often from now on.
A national campaign telling parents it’s reasonable to ask will change the conversation at the kitchen table. Being able to answer “yes, here it is” is about to become a meaningful commercial advantage.
It also removes an awkwardness that has cut both ways. Plenty of self-employed professionals have wanted to offer this reassurance for years and had no lawful route to do it. Now the route exists, and the campaign gives parents permission to ask.
We’re already seeing the demand. Our self-employed DBS statistics show monthly applications more than tripling between March and May 2026, across 118 distinct job titles in the first four months alone. This campaign is likely to accelerate that further.
Does every role qualify?
No.
Eligibility is based on the work you actually carry out, not your job title and not your preference. The role must fall under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order, and Barred List access requires the work to count as regulated activity.
That definition also widened on 1 September 2026, when the supervision exemption was removed for work with children. We’ve covered that change in detail in our guide to the September 2026 regulated activity rules.
If you’re unsure where your role sits, our free DBS Eligibility Checker will tell you in a couple of minutes.
Our view
Campaigns like this one only work if the practical route behind them is straightforward. Telling a parent to ask is the easy half. Making sure the tutor, coach or carer can actually get the certificate quickly, correctly and without an employer is the harder half, and that’s the part we exist to solve.
There's also good news on cost: a DBS fee reduction has been confirmed for 5 October 2026, which lowers the barrier further for self-employed applicants.
We'd encourage every self-employed professional working with children or vulnerable adults to read the official DBS announcement and the guidance for parents and carers.
Every check really does help. So does knowing how to get one.
This guide applies to self-employed workers in England and Wales only. Self-employed workers in Scotland should apply through Disclosure Scotland. In Northern Ireland, the equivalent service is AccessNI. This page is for guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have questions about your specific circumstances, contact our support team or consult a qualified legal adviser.
How to Get an Enhanced DBS Check as a Self-Employed Person
Applying for an individual DBS check as a self-employed person follows five steps. The process is the same whether you need a Standard, Enhanced, or Enhanced with Barred List check.
Check eligibility
You must be paid and in a qualifying role. Volunteers are not covered.
Register an account
Self-employed applicants cannot submit directly to the DBS.
Complete application
Personal details, 5 years of addresses, and your role information.
Verify your identity
Digitally via biometric passport or EU ID card, or with standard documents.
Receive your certificate
Posted directly to you. Show the original to your client or parent.
Ready to apply for your DBS check as a sole trader?
Self-employed-dbs.co.uk processes Enhanced and Standard DBS applications for self-employed workers in England and Wales. No employer needed.