A DBS check is a criminal record check used by employers, clients, and organisations to verify that a person is suitable to work with children or vulnerable adults. It is one of the most widely used safeguarding tools in the United Kingdom.
This guide explains what a DBS check is, what the three levels disclose, who requests them, and what changed in January 2026 for self-employed workers who previously had limited access to the system.
What DBS Stands For
DBS stands for Disclosure and Barring Service. The Disclosure and Barring Service is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Home Office, that was established in December 2012.
The name describes its two core functions. Disclosure refers to the process of checking criminal records and providing employers and organisations with information about an applicant’s history. Barring refers to the maintenance of two lists, the Children’s Barred List and the Adults’ Barred List, which record individuals who are legally prohibited from working with children or vulnerable adults.
The DBS is funded entirely by the fees charged for its checks, not from general taxation. It processes millions of check applications each year across England, Wales, and some parts of the wider UK public sector. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own equivalent disclosure services.
The Difference Between a DBS Check and a CRB Check
Before 2012, criminal record checks in England and Wales were administered by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). In December 2012, the CRB merged with the Independent Safeguarding Authority to form the Disclosure and Barring Service, and CRB checks were replaced by DBS checks.
The function of the check is essentially the same. The change was primarily structural, combining criminal record disclosure with the maintenance of barred lists under a single organisation. Many people and organisations still use the term CRB check colloquially, but there has been no such thing as a CRB check in the formal sense since 2012. If someone asks you for a CRB check, they mean a DBS check.
The terminology shift is worth understanding because some older policy documents, role specifications, and contracts may still reference CRB checks. In all cases, the requirement should now be read as a DBS check at the appropriate level. If you are uncertain which level the requesting organisation requires, it is worth asking before applying, to avoid obtaining the wrong certificate.
The Three Types of DBS Check
There are three levels of DBS check, each providing a different depth of information.
A Basic DBS check shows only unspent criminal convictions from the Police National Computer. It is available to anyone, applied for independently via GOV.UK, and does not require a countersignatory or registered platform. It is the minimum level of check and is often insufficient for roles involving direct contact with children or vulnerable adults.
A Standard DBS check shows spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and final warnings from the Police National Computer. It is used for roles involving a degree of trust or authority that do not constitute regulated activity.
An Enhanced DBS check is the most comprehensive. It includes everything on a Standard check and may also include relevant information held by local police forces at the discretion of the chief officer. For roles involving regulated activity with children or vulnerable adults, it can also include a check of the DBS Barred Lists. This is the level of check required for the majority of roles in teaching, care, childminding, and other work with vulnerable groups.
The distinction between these three levels matters because applying for the wrong one wastes time and money. A Basic check will not satisfy a client who requires an Enhanced check, and an Enhanced check is only available for roles involving regulated activity. If you are unsure which level applies to your work, our frequently asked questions page covers the most common scenarios.
Who Asks for DBS Checks
DBS checks are requested by a wide range of organisations, clients, and regulatory bodies across the public and private sectors.
Schools, nurseries, care homes, hospitals, and children’s charities are among the most common requestors. They have statutory obligations to ensure that the people they employ or engage have been vetted to the appropriate standard. For these organisations, an Enhanced DBS check with the relevant barred list check is typically a baseline requirement before any individual begins work.
Private clients, including parents hiring a private tutor or nanny and families engaging a home carer, increasingly request DBS certificates as a condition of engagement. As Enhanced checks have become more accessible following the January 2026 law change, client expectations in the private sector have risen accordingly.
Regulatory bodies such as Ofsted also require DBS checks as part of registration and inspection processes for childminders and other regulated providers. Professional bodies in healthcare, social work, and legal services similarly require members to maintain current DBS certificates as a condition of registration or practice.
In the private sector, parents hiring a self-employed tutor or nanny will routinely ask for a DBS certificate before agreeing to an engagement. Letting agencies often require Enhanced checks before a landlord will agree to a key-holding arrangement involving access to a property with vulnerable residents.
Professional bodies and membership organisations in sectors such as counselling, physiotherapy, and social work may also require members to hold a current DBS certificate as a condition of registration. The level of check required varies by sector and by the nature of the contact involved.
What a DBS Certificate Shows
A DBS certificate is a document issued to the applicant following a completed check. It shows the applicant’s name, date of birth, the level of check carried out, the date of issue, and a reference number.
If there is nothing to disclose at the level of check applied for, the certificate will state that there is no information to disclose. If there is something to disclose, the relevant convictions, cautions, or other information will be listed on the certificate.
A DBS check does not produce a pass or fail result. It provides information, and the decision about what to do with that information rests with the employer or client. An employer or client may engage someone with disclosed convictions if they consider the nature of the conviction to be irrelevant to the role. Conversely, they may decline to engage someone with a conviction that is directly relevant to the responsibilities involved. The decision-making is theirs, not the DBS’s.
The certificate is posted to the applicant’s home address. There is no digital version of the certificate itself, although the DBS Update Service allows clients to check the status of an existing certificate online without requiring a new application.
The certificate does not include a recommendation or a risk assessment. It is a factual record, and the recipient, whether an employer, a client, or a commissioning body, must decide how to interpret the information disclosed. A certificate with no disclosures is commonly referred to as a clear certificate.
DBS Checks for Self-Employed Workers
Before 21 January 2026, self-employed workers in England and Wales had no route to a Standard or Enhanced DBS check without an employer to countersign the application. Only Basic checks were accessible to them independently.
This created a significant gap. A private tutor working unsupervised with children could not access an Enhanced check, meaning there was no way for parents or clients to verify whether that person appeared on the Children’s Barred List. The same gap applied to self-employed carers, childminders not registered with Ofsted, sports coaches, music teachers, and many others.
A Statutory Instrument amending Part V of the Police Act 1997 came into force on 21 January 2026, closing that gap. Paid self-employed workers who carry out regulated activity with children or vulnerable adults can now apply for Standard and Enhanced DBS checks through a registered platform, which acts as the countersignatory in place of an employer.
The full background to this change, including who it applies to and what it means in practice, is covered in the self-employed DBS guide.
For a full overview of what is now available and how to apply, see our guide to DBS checks for self-employed workers.
How a DBS Check Works in Practice
A DBS check starts with an application. For employed workers, the employer submits the application on the individual’s behalf. For self-employed workers, a registered platform like self-employed-dbs.co.uk handles the countersigning and submission.
The applicant provides identity documents, their address history for the last five years, and details of the role they are applying for. For Standard and Enhanced checks, the applicant must also confirm that the role meets the eligibility criteria for that level of check.
Once submitted, the application goes to the Disclosure and Barring Service for processing. The DBS searches the Police National Computer (PNC) for all check types. For Enhanced checks, the DBS also contacts local police forces covering the applicant’s address history to request any relevant intelligence held locally.
When processing is complete, the DBS issues a certificate to the applicant by post. The certificate confirms the level of check carried out, the date it was issued, and the information disclosed. The applicant decides who sees the certificate.
How Long a DBS Check Takes and What It Costs
There is no guaranteed turnaround for any DBS check. Standard checks are generally returned within a few days to two weeks. Enhanced checks typically take two to four weeks, though some take longer if local police forces need time to review their records.
The cost of a DBS check is set by the government. A Standard DBS check costs £21.50. An Enhanced DBS check costs £49.50. These statutory fees are VAT-exempt. For a full breakdown of current fees, see our DBS check costs page.
After receiving a certificate, applicants can register for the DBS Update Service within 30 days for £16 per year. The Update Service keeps the certificate current and allows clients to verify it online, removing the need to apply for a new check each time the worker takes on a different role.
Common Questions About DBS Checks
- What does DBS stand for?
DBS stands for Disclosure and Barring Service. The Disclosure and Barring Service is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Home Office, that was created in December 2012 by merging the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA).
- Is a DBS check the same as a CRB check?
Yes, effectively. CRB checks were replaced by DBS checks in 2012 when the Criminal Records Bureau merged with the Independent Safeguarding Authority to form the Disclosure and Barring Service. The function is the same; only the name changed. Some organisations and individuals still use the older CRB terminology, but there is no such thing as a CRB check in the current system.
- Does a DBS check expire?
There is no official expiry date on a DBS certificate. However, many organisations set their own renewal timelines, typically requiring a new check every one, two, or three years depending on the sector and their internal policies. The DBS Update Service allows a certificate to be kept current indefinitely for £16 per year, subject to an annual status check.
- Can I use one DBS check for multiple jobs?
You can use one DBS certificate across multiple roles, provided the certificate was issued at the appropriate level for each role and provided each organisation or client is willing to accept it. The DBS Update Service makes this straightforward: clients can check your certificate status online rather than requiring a new check for each engagement.
- What is the difference between a DBS check and a right to work check?
A DBS check is a criminal record check that establishes whether someone has a criminal history relevant to a role. A right to work check establishes whether someone is legally entitled to work in the United Kingdom. They are separate processes, checked by different authorities, and one does not substitute for the other.
- Who can see my DBS certificate?
The DBS certificate is issued to you personally and posted to your home address. You decide who sees it. There is no central database that employers or clients can access to view your certificate unless you have registered for the DBS Update Service and shared your certificate number with them for the purposes of a status check.
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.
Apply for Your Self-Employed DBS Check
Self-employed-dbs.co.uk processes Standard and Enhanced DBS applications for paid self-employed workers in England and Wales. No employer needed. Apply online with digital ID verification available.