DBS Checks for Care Workers
Join thousands of self-employed care workers across England and Wales who have used our platform to get their Enhanced DBS certificate. Registration takes under five minutes.
What Is a DBS Check for Care Workers?
A DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check is a criminal record check that reveals whether someone has convictions, cautions, or other information that could make them unsuitable to work with children or vulnerable adults.
For self-employed care workers, personal carers, and care assistants, it is the most widely recognised way to demonstrate to clients and their families that you have been vetted and are safe to provide personal care in their home. It is not a formality. It is a standard expectation, and one that is increasingly being required before any care work begins, particularly for workers employed through direct payments schemes.
There are three levels of DBS check. Most self-employed care workers providing regular personal care will need an Enhanced DBS check, often with a check of the Adults’ Barred List.
Do Self-Employed Care Workers Need a DBS Check?
There is no single law that requires every self-employed carer to hold a DBS certificate. However, the practical reality is that most clients will expect one, most local authorities require one for workers funded through direct payments, and most care agencies that refer self-employed workers will not engage anyone without one.
Beyond client expectations, if you are providing personal care to vulnerable adults on a regular, paid basis, which describes the vast majority of self-employed care workers, then you are almost certainly carrying out what is legally defined as regulated activity with vulnerable adults. That means you are eligible for, and arguably obligated to obtain, an Enhanced DBS check with Adults’ Barred List.
This applies equally to personal carers, care assistants, and workers employed through direct payments schemes where the client or a representative manages the care arrangement directly.
Apply for Your Care Worker DBS Check. Get your Enhanced DBS check as a self-employed care worker fully online, digital ID verification, e-Bulk submitted today from self-employed-dbs.co.uk.
Until 21 January 2026, self-employed care workers faced a significant and largely unfair problem: they could only apply for a Basic DBS check.
A Basic check only shows unspent criminal convictions. It does not reveal spent convictions, cautions, local police intelligence, or whether someone appears on the Adults’ Barred List. For a client trying to make a genuinely informed decision about who provides their personal care, a Basic check offered very little reassurance.
Worse, the legal barrier was invisible. A self-employed care worker could be entirely suitable, but the DBS had formally concluded they should not work with vulnerable adults without an employer to sponsor their application.
A Statutory Instrument laid before Parliament on 30 November 2025 closed that gap. From 21 January 2026, self-employed individuals in paid regulated activity can apply for Enhanced DBS checks — including Barred List checks — through a registered DBS Umbrella Body, without needing an employer.
For personal carers, care assistants, and workers employed through direct payments schemes, this is a significant change. You can read the full story of what changed, and why, in our guide to DBS changes in 2025 and 2026.
What Type of DBS Check Does a Care Worker Need?
This depends on the nature of your care work and how often you provide it.
Enhanced DBS with Adults’ Barred List is the appropriate level for most self-employed care workers. You qualify if you are providing personal care, which includes washing, dressing, eating or drinking assistance, medication management, or similar, and you do so on more than three days within any 30-day period.
This is the check that reveals the full picture: spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, relevant local police intelligence, and whether you appear on the Adults’ Barred List. You can read more about what an Enhanced DBS check includes and how to apply for one as a self-employed person.
Enhanced DBS without Barred List applies if your care work is more occasional, typically less than three days in any 30-day period. You are still eligible for an Enhanced check, which includes the local police intelligence component, but without the Barred List element.
Basic DBS is available to anyone, but for a working carer it provides limited reassurance to clients and does not demonstrate the level of vetting that is now possible and expected. Basic checks are handled directly through GOV.UK and do not require an Umbrella Body.
If your role involves only domestic tasks, for example cleaning, cooking, or shopping, and does not include personal care, you would not be eligible for an Enhanced DBS check for care workers. The distinction is based on the legal definition of regulated activity, not your job title.
Not sure which level applies to your situation? Our DBS checks for self-employed people guide walks through the eligibility criteria in plain English.
How to Get a DBS Check as a Self-Employed Care Worker
The process is straightforward, though it differs from the route an employed care worker would take.
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 certificate
Posted directly to you. Show the original to your client or parent.
How Long Does a DBS Check Take for Care Workers?
Standard Enhanced DBS checks typically complete within 14 days, though timelines can vary depending on the complexity of the check and whether police forces require additional time to process their portion of the application.
We use e-Bulk submission, which means your application is sent electronically to the DBS and processed faster than paper-based applications. If you keep your certificate current through the Update Service — not compulsory, but practical — our platform is designed to move as fast as the DBS process allows.
There is no official fast-track route for Enhanced DBS checks. Standard processing times apply to all applications regardless of which Umbrella Body submits them.
Read more about how long a DBS check takes and how it works.
How Much Does a DBS Check Cost for a Care Worker?
The DBS statutory fee for an Enhanced check is £49.50. This is set by the government and is the same regardless of which Umbrella Body you use.
On top of this, our administration fee is £19.50, covering the full application process, digital ID verification, and e-Bulk submission. The total cost for most self-employed care workers through our platform is £69.00. There are no setup fees and no charges until your application is ready to submit.
You can see a full breakdown of all fees — including the Basic and Standard DBS costs — on our DBS check costs for self-employed page.
This guide applies to self-employed care workers in England and Wales. Scotland uses Disclosure Scotland. Northern Ireland uses Access NI. 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most popular questions we get about DBS Checks and our Platform
Do I need a DBS check if I only care for one client?
Eligibility is based on what you do and how often, not on the number of clients. If you provide personal care to one vulnerable adult regularly — more than three sessions within any 30-day period — you are likely carrying out regulated activity and are eligible for an Enhanced check with Adults’ Barred List.
Can I get a DBS check without an employer?
Yes. From 21 January 2026, self-employed care workers can apply for Enhanced DBS checks through a registered Umbrella Body. You no longer need an employer to sponsor your application.
How long is a DBS certificate valid?
A DBS certificate has no official expiry date. However, it is only accurate on the day it is issued. Many clients and local authorities expect a certificate less than three years old, or an active DBS Update Service subscription for ongoing status checks.
What is the Children's Barred List?
The Adults’ Barred List is maintained by the DBS and contains the names of individuals who are barred from working with vulnerable adults. An Enhanced DBS check for care workers with a Barred List check confirms you are not on this list.
Will my certificate show old or minor offences?
An Enhanced DBS check can show both spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and final warnings. Certain old or minor offences may be filtered under DBS filtering rules. The DBS decides what is disclosed based on the nature and age of the offence.
Can clients check my DBS certificate online?
Only if you register for the DBS Update Service (£16 per year). This allows clients to carry out a free, instant online status check using your certificate number and date of birth, with your consent.
Do I need a new DBS check for every care client?
Not if you subscribe to the DBS Update Service. It allows each new client to verify your existing certificate is still current, saving you from reapplying each time. This is particularly useful for personal carers and care assistants employed through multiple direct payments arrangements.
I work through direct payments — does this route apply to me?
Yes. Workers employed through direct payments schemes are typically classed as self-employed. The Umbrella Body route allows you to apply for your own Enhanced DBS check for care workers without needing the payment recipient to act as applicant.
What does the Enhanced DBS check actually include?
An Enhanced DBS check includes a search of the Police National Computer for convictions and cautions, a check of local police records for any relevant intelligence, and — where applicable — a check against the Adults’ Barred List. It is the most thorough level of criminal record check available.