Self-Employed Enhanced DBS Checks
Self-Employed people choose our platform to handle their Enhanced DBS Checks
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Enhanced Criminal Record Checks for Self-Employed People
Online Criminal Record Checks
Why do self employed professionals, sole traders and single person companies choose self-employed-dbs.co.uk to handle their DBS check needs?
The quickest Standard and Enhanced DBS Checks for self employed individuals. A simple and modern platform makes fast processing effortless for sole traders and single person companies using self-employed-dbs.co.uk.
Our platform simplifies the self-employed DBS Check process for sole traders and single person companies, helping keep costs low. This means we are often cheaper than other providers.
All About Self-Employed Enhanced DBS Checks
What is the Enhanced DBS Check?
What is an Enhanced DBS Check?
An Enhanced DBS Check is the highest level of criminal record screening available in the UK.
It is designed for self employed individuals, sole traders, and single person companies carrying out work that involves a high level of trust and responsibility.
This commonly includes regular or unsupervised contact with children or vulnerable adults.
Why Self Employed Workers Need an Enhanced DBS Check
For many self employed roles, an Enhanced DBS Check is essential.
Independent professionals working directly with vulnerable people are often expected by clients, regulators, or contracts to hold the correct level of DBS clearance.
An Enhanced DBS Check for self employed workers helps demonstrate suitability, professionalism, and a commitment to safeguarding.
What an Enhanced DBS Check Includes
An Enhanced DBS Check provides a detailed view of criminal history.
It includes everything disclosed in a Standard DBS Check, such as spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and final warnings.
It may also include relevant local police information that does not form part of a formal conviction but may still be important for safeguarding decisions.
Why an Enhanced DBS Check for Self Employed Work Matters
Using an Enhanced DBS Check gives clients and organisations confidence when engaging self employed workers.
It supports safer working arrangements, helps meet safeguarding expectations, and allows informed decisions to be made.
Holding an Enhanced DBS Check also helps self employed professionals show compliance and trustworthiness when working independently in sensitive roles.
What does an Enhanced DBS Check cost?
Cost of an Enhanced DBS Check to Self Employed Workers
When applying through an Umbrella Body, the cost of an Enhanced DBS Check is made up of two main parts.
The first is a fixed fee set by the Disclosure and Barring Service. This charge is the same regardless of how many applications are submitted.
It is currently £49.50 and includes checks against the Adults’ and/or Children’s Barred Lists where eligible.
Umbrella Body Administration Fees
The second part is an administration fee charged for managing and processing the application.
These fees can vary depending on how the service is used.
Affordable Options with self-employed-dbs.co.uk
At self-employed-dbs.co.uk, administration fees for self employed individuals, sole traders, and single person companies start from ju
Are there eligibility requirements for Enhanced DBS Checks?
Eligibility Requirements for Enhanced DBS Checks
Enhanced DBS Checks are subject to strict eligibility rules for self employed individuals.
Because these checks disclose sensitive information, they can only be requested for specific types of work.
The law controls when an Enhanced DBS Check is permitted to protect privacy and ensure checks are only used where they are genuinely required.
Criteria for an Enhanced DBS Check for Self Employed Work
For self employed work to qualify for an Enhanced DBS Check, two legal conditions must be met:
- The work must be listed under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 Exceptions Order 1975, which allows spent convictions to be disclosed.
- The work must involve regulated activity as defined under the Police Act 1997 Criminal Records Regulations, which sets out when an Enhanced DBS Check can lawfully be requested.
Common Self Employed Roles Requiring an Enhanced DBS Check
An Enhanced DBS Check is required for many types of self employed work that involve safeguarding responsibilities.
Common examples include:
- Providing direct care, supervision, or support to vulnerable adults, such as self employed carers, support workers, or mental health professionals.
- Roles involving regular and unsupervised contact with children, for example tutors, instructors, or childcare providers working independently.
- Work carried out in healthcare or care settings where there is direct contact with patients or service users, even in non clinical roles.
- Volunteer based self employed roles where safeguarding duties are part of the work.
What is an Enhanced DBS Check with Barred Lists?
What Are Barred List Checks?
An Enhanced DBS Check for self employed work can include checks against the Children’s Barred List and the Adults’ Barred List.
These lists identify individuals who are legally prevented from working with vulnerable groups because of safeguarding concerns.
If a person appears on either list, they are barred by law from carrying out work involving those groups.
When Are Barred List Checks Required?
Barred List checks are usually required where self employed work involves regulated activities.
This includes roles such as independent carers, support workers, tutors, instructors, or others providing services that involve regular or unsupervised contact with children or vulnerable adults.
Cost of Barred List Checks
There is no additional charge for including Barred List checks as part of an Enhanced DBS Check.
However, they must only be requested where the role is legally eligible.
This ensures safeguarding requirements are applied correctly and in line with the law.
Why Barred List Checks Matter
Including Barred List checks helps protect vulnerable people and reassures clients and organisations.
These checks prevent unsuitable individuals from working in positions of trust and support safe and compliant working practices for self employed professionals.
What shows up on an Enhanced DBS Check?
Convictions, Cautions, Warnings, and Reprimands
- Spent convictions, which are normally removed from disclosure after a rehabilitation period under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
- Unspent convictions that remain current and must still be disclosed.
- Formal police cautions, warnings, and reprimands.
Enhanced DBS Checks for self employed work always include this core information to help clients and organisations assess suitability.
Local Police Information
Local police forces may also include additional non conviction information that is relevant to the work being carried out.
This can include:
- Allegations that did not result in arrest or prosecution.
- Information from investigations that were later discontinued.
- Concerns relating to suspected criminal activity or safeguarding risks.
This information is only disclosed where a Chief Police Officer believes it is necessary for safeguarding.
This makes an Enhanced DBS Check for self employed roles more thorough than a Standard check.
Barred List Checks
Where the work is eligible, checks can also be carried out against the official barred lists, which include:
- The Children’s Barred List
- The Adults’ Barred List
These lists identify individuals who are legally prohibited from carrying out regulated activities.
Including them within an Enhanced DBS Check helps ensure that self employed workers who engage with vulnerable adults or children meet safeguarding requirements.
What doesn't show up on an Enhanced DBS Check?
What Information Is Not Included?
Some information is never shown on a DBS Check.
This includes County Court Judgments, unpaid debts, and other financial matters.
Parking fines, fixed penalty notices, and similar minor issues are also not disclosed.
When Non Conviction Information May Appear
In certain situations, local police forces may include non conviction information if they believe it is relevant to the work being carried out.
This only happens where disclosure is necessary to protect vulnerable people.
For self employed roles involving safeguarding, this discretion helps manage potential risks appropriately.
DBS Filtering Rules
Filtering is used to remove minor or old offences from Standard and Enhanced DBS Checks.
These are known as protected offences.
As a result, some historic convictions or youth cautions may not be disclosed if they meet strict filtering criteria.
This approach helps ensure DBS Checks remain proportionate while still supporting safeguarding.
Specified Offences Always Disclosed
Certain offences must always be included on a DBS Check unless they relate to a youth caution.
These typically involve serious matters such as violent offences, sexual offences, or issues connected to safeguarding children or vulnerable adults.
Any conviction that resulted in a custodial sentence, including a suspended sentence, will also always be disclosed.
Youth Records on Enhanced DBS Checks
Most youth cautions, warnings, and reprimands are no longer automatically shown on Enhanced DBS Checks.
An exception applies to Youth Conditional Cautions, which may still be disclosed depending on the circumstances.
This balanced system helps protect young people while ensuring important safeguarding information is available when needed.
- Enhanced DBS Checks: The most detailed level of criminal record check in the UK, showing spent and unspent convictions, cautions, warnings, and relevant local police information.
- Eligibility rules apply: An Enhanced DBS Check can only be requested for self employed work that is listed under safeguarding legislation and involves regulated activity.
- Barred List searches: Where legally permitted, Adults’ or Children’s Barred List checks can be included to confirm whether an individual is prohibited from working with vulnerable groups.
- Required for many self employed roles: Independent carers, tutors, support workers, and others working closely with vulnerable adults or children will usually need an Enhanced DBS Check.
- Cost and compliance: An Enhanced DBS Check costs £49.50 plus any administration fee and is often required to meet safeguarding expectations and contractual requirements when working independently.