What does a basic DBS check show?
A basic DBS check shows details of convictions and conditional cautions that are still unspent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. If there is no information to disclose, the certificate will not list convictions or conditional cautions.
For self-employed professionals in England and Wales, the important point is that a basic check is the lowest level of DBS check. It can be requested for any role, but it does not include spent convictions, relevant police information or barred list checks. Some roles involving children or adults receiving care may be eligible for an enhanced DBS check instead.
The short answer: what appears on a basic DBS certificate
A basic DBS certificate contains details of unspent convictions and unspent conditional cautions. These are records that have not yet become spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
For many applicants, the certificate will come back with no conviction information shown. That does not mean the person has never had any contact with the criminal justice system. It means there is no unspent conviction or conditional caution for the basic check to disclose.
A basic check is available to people working in England and Wales. An individual can apply for one themselves, or an employer or client may ask them to obtain one. A person must be at least 16 to apply for a DBS check.
What unspent means in practice
A conviction or conditional caution is usually unspent for a set period of time. That period depends on the outcome, such as the sentence, order or disposal given. Once the rehabilitation period has passed, the record is normally treated as spent for basic disclosure purposes.
This matters because a basic DBS check is concerned with current, unspent information only. It is not a full lifetime record. A self-employed professional who had an old conviction may find that it no longer appears on a basic DBS certificate if it has become spent.
There are exceptions and the rules can be technical, particularly where someone has more than one conviction. Anyone unsure about their own record should use official guidance or seek independent advice before answering client or application questions about criminal records.
What a basic DBS check does not show
A basic DBS check does not show spent convictions or spent cautions. It also does not include local police information that might be considered relevant to a role, and it does not check the children’s barred list or adults’ barred list.
That makes it different from an enhanced DBS check. An enhanced check can include the same Police National Computer information as a standard check, plus relevant information held by police forces. An enhanced with barred list check can also include a check of the children’s barred list, the adults’ barred list, or both, where the role is eligible.
A basic check also does not prove that someone is safe for every type of work. DBS checks are only one part of safer decision-making. Clients, parents and organisations may also need to consider references, qualifications, insurance, safeguarding training, identity checks and the type of access the worker will have.
How to decide whether a basic DBS check is enough
Use the role, not guesswork, to decide the right level of DBS check. This is especially important for self-employed work where clients may ask for the wrong certificate.
Describe the actual work
Write down what the worker will do, who they will work with, where the service happens and whether they will be supervised.
Check whether the role is eligible
Use DBS eligibility guidance or a role-specific eligibility tool. A higher-level check needs a legal basis.
Match the check to the role
If the role is not eligible for standard or enhanced disclosure, a basic DBS check may be the only available DBS level.
Consider safeguarding separately
A DBS certificate is not a complete safeguarding process. References, training, identity checks and safe working arrangements may still matter.
Apply through the right route
Basic DBS checks are obtained directly or through a responsible organisation. Eligible self-employed enhanced checks are processed through a DBS umbrella body.
When a basic check may be enough for self-employed work
A basic DBS check may be suitable where the role is not eligible for a standard or enhanced check, but the person wants to show current criminal record information to a client. For example, a tradesperson entering a customer’s home may be able to provide a basic check if their work does not meet the legal criteria for a higher-level check.
There is no eligibility test for a basic DBS check. That is why it is often used for general trust and reassurance. It can be requested for any position or purpose, provided the applicant consents where another organisation is involved.
The position changes when the work falls into an eligible role or activity. A self-employed tutor, coach, carer, healthcare professional or childcare worker may need to consider whether the role is eligible for an enhanced DBS check. You can read more in our guides for private tutors and DBS checks by occupation and role.
When an enhanced DBS check may be more appropriate
An enhanced DBS check may be appropriate where the role involves specific duties, positions or licences covered by DBS eligibility rules. This often includes certain work with children, adults receiving health or social care, or regulated activity.
For self-employed people, this point is now especially relevant. Eligible self-employed individuals and personal employees can apply for an enhanced or enhanced with barred list DBS check through a DBS umbrella body. The private parent, client or household cannot obtain that check on the worker’s behalf, although an organisation contracting the worker may be able to apply in line with its own policies.
Self Employed DBS provides enhanced DBS checks for eligible self-employed applicants. We do not provide basic DBS checks. If you are unsure which level fits your work, start with our DBS eligibility check tool before applying.
How clients and customers should read a basic DBS certificate
A basic DBS certificate should be read carefully and in context. The date of issue matters because DBS certificates do not have an official expiry date. The information on the certificate is accurate at the point it was issued, but a person’s record can change after that date.
Clients should check that the identity details on the certificate match the person providing the service. They should also think about whether the level of check is suitable for the work being carried out. A basic certificate may be reasonable for some services, but it should not be treated as a substitute for an enhanced check where an enhanced check is legally available and appropriate.
The DBS Update Service is not available for basic DBS checks. It applies to standard and enhanced checks. For more on certificates and re-use, see our guides to what a DBS certificate is and the DBS Update Service for self-employed workers.
This guide is for general information for England and Wales. DBS eligibility depends on the exact role and duties. It is not legal advice and does not guarantee that a particular check will be available or sufficient for every client, employer, regulator or licensing body.
Need an enhanced DBS check for self-employed work?
If your role is eligible for an enhanced DBS check, Self Employed DBS can help you start the application online. We only provide enhanced DBS checks, so we will not try to sell you a basic check when that is all your role allows.
Check your role first, then start an application if an enhanced check is the right level for your work.