Guidance

A guide for parents and carers employing self-employed workers or personal employees

Updated 8 September 2026

This guidance applies to DBS checks in England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

Information about checks in Scotland is available from Disclosure Scotland. Information about checks in Northern Ireland is available from AccessNI.

Important

This guidance is for general information only. Not everyone can get every type of DBS check. Use the DBS eligibility guidance and DBS eligibility tool on GOV.UK to check whether the person you are looking to employ can apply for this type of DBS check.

1. Introduction

From 21 January 2026, some self-employed workers and personal employees can apply for an Enhanced DBS check where eligible.

In some situations, this may also include checks of the Children’s and/or Adults’ Barred Lists.

Not everybody can apply for every type of DBS check. Whether someone can apply depends on the work they do and who they work with. This is known as DBS eligibility.

 This means that if you are considering employing someone to work with your child, yourself or a vulnerable family member, you can ask to see an Enhanced DBS certificate before making your decision. An Enhanced DBS certificate can provide useful information. However, it is only one part of making an informed decision.

This guide explains how a DBS certificate can be used alongside other information when choosing someone to work with your child or vulnerable family member.

1.1 What is a DBS check?

A DBS check provides information from police records and, where appropriate, Barred List information that may help you make informed decisions when employing someone to work with a child or vulnerable family member.

A DBS certificate is not a pass or fail test. Consider it alongside references, qualifications, experience and recommendations.

Depending on the role, a DBS certificate may also include checks of the Children’s or Adults’ Barred Lists. A Barred List contains the names of people who are legally prohibited from carrying out certain types of regulated activity with children or vulnerable adults.

2. What does this mean for me?

When choosing someone to work with your child or vulnerable family member, you may already consider:

• qualifications
• experience
• references
• training
• recommendations

You can also consider a DBS certificate as another useful source of information where the individual can apply for one.

Depending on the role, this may be an Enhanced DBS check or an Enhanced DBS check with a check of the Children’s and/or Adults’ Barred Lists.

A DBS certificate should not replace your usual checks and conversations. It should be considered alongside the other information available to you.

3. What should I consider before hiring someone?

Every situation is different.

When deciding whether someone is right for the role, consider:

• References
• Qualifications
• Experience
• Recommendations
• An Enhanced DBS certificate, including barred list information where appropriate
• Your own judgement

Every piece of information can help you build a fuller picture before making your decision.

4. They can get a DBS check. You can ask to see it.

Where an eligible self-employed worker or personal employee has obtained an Enhanced DBS certificate, including where appropriate an Enhanced DBS certificate with a Children’s or Adults’ Barred List check, you can ask whether they are willing to share it with you.

Depending on the activities involved, this may include people such as:

• tutors
• sports coaches
• music teachers
• personal assistants
• carers

Use the DBS eligibility tool on GOV.UK to check whether the person you are looking to employ can apply for this type of DBS check.

The certificate belongs to the individual, and it is their choice whether they share it.

Parents and carers cannot apply for a DBS check on behalf of an individual. Where someone is eligible for an Enhanced DBS check, they must apply for it themselves through a DBS Umbrella Body, an organisation that processes DBS applications on behalf of individuals.

5. How can I ask?

Some people may feel uncomfortable asking about DBS checks.

However, asking for information before making a decision is a normal part of choosing someone to work with your child or vulnerable family member.

You could ask:

“Before we go ahead, I’d love to see your DBS certificate. I understand you can now apply for an Enhanced one - would you be happy to share it?”

Or, more simply:

“Could I see your Enhanced DBS certificate alongside your references and qualifications?”

6. What should I look for when someone shares a certificate?

If someone chooses to share a DBS certificate with you, you should check:

• that you are viewing the original certificate rather than a copy or photograph
• that the name on the certificate matches the person showing it to you and, where possible, a form of photographic identification such as a driving licence or passport
• the certificate issue date
• whether the certificate relates to the appropriate workforce for the role (for example, a children’s workforce certificate for someone working with children under 18, or an adults’ workforce certificate for someone working with adults)
• whether the individual is subscribed to the DBS Update Service

If the person is subscribed to the DBS Update Service, you can check whether any information has changed since the certificate was issued, with their permission.

DBS certificates do not have an official expiry date. The certificate issue date and use of the DBS Update Service can help you understand whether information remains current.

Some DBS certificates may also include information about whether a person is barred from working with children or vulnerable adults.

If a certificate shows that someone is barred from working with children or vulnerable adults, they are legally prohibited from carrying out certain types of regulated activity with that workforce.

It is a criminal offence for a barred person to carry out regulated activity with the workforce they are barred from, and it is also an offence for someone to knowingly employ them to do so.

If you become aware that a barred person is carrying out regulated activity with children or vulnerable adults, you should contact the police.

If a certificate contains other disclosed information, consider it carefully alongside everything else you know about the person, including their references, qualifications, experience and your own judgement.

Remember that a DBS certificate is only one source of information.

References, qualifications, experience, recommendations and your own judgement remain important parts of making an informed decision.

7. What if they do not have one?

7.1 They do not have a certificate

 Some self-employed workers and personal employees may not currently have an Enhanced DBS certificate.

If a certificate is not available, you may wish to consider whether you have enough information to make an informed decision before proceeding.

You can still consider other relevant information such as:

• references
• qualifications
• experience
• recommendations

7.2 They are waiting for their certificate

Some individuals may have applied for an Enhanced DBS check but not yet received their certificate.

You may wish to discuss this with them before making your decision.

7.3 They do not want to share it

A DBS certificate belongs to the individual.

Whether they decide to share it is their choice.

You may wish to consider what other information is available to you when deciding how to proceed. 

7.4 Example: They choose not to share it

You ask to see a DBS certificate, but the individual decides not to share it.

You may wish to consider what other information is available to you, such as references, qualifications, experience and recommendations, before deciding whether to proceed.

8. Example situations

8.1 Hiring a tutor

You are looking for a maths tutor for your child.

You ask about:

• qualifications
• previous tutoring experience
• references

The tutor also chooses to share their Enhanced with Children’s Barred List DBS certificate.

You consider all of this information before deciding whether to proceed.

8.2 Hiring a sports coach

You are considering employing a self-employed sports coach directly to provide private coaching sessions for your child.

You discuss:

• coaching qualifications
• previous experience
• references

You also ask whether the coach has an Enhanced with Children’s Barred List DBS certificate and whether they are willing to share it with you.

You use all of this information to help make your decision.

8.3 Hiring a personal carer

 You are looking for someone to support yourself or a vulnerable family member.

You discuss:

• relevant experience
• training
• references

You also ask whether they have an Enhanced DBS certificate with the appropriate barred list available to share. 

Depending on the activities involved, this may include a check of the Adults’ Barred list. If someone appears on the Adults’ Barred List, they are legally prohibited from carrying out certain types of work with vulnerable adults.

You consider this alongside the person’s experience, references and your own judgement before deciding whether to proceed.

9. Important things to remember

No single check tells you everything.

An Enhanced DBS certificate can provide useful information, but it should be considered alongside references, qualifications, experience and your own judgement.

The aim is to build the fullest possible picture before deciding who to trust to work with your child or vulnerable family member.

You may also wish to consider other safeguarding measures where appropriate, such as being present during initial sessions, maintaining open communication, and continuing to monitor how arrangements are working.

10. Find out more

For further guidance, visit:

Private individuals employing self-employed workers or personal employees

You may also find the following useful:

• DBS checks guidance for employers, voluntary organisations and third parties
• DBS identity checking guidelines
• DBS checks for self-employed people and personal employees
• DBS eligibility guidance
• DBS eligibility tool
• DBS Update Service
• Find a DBS Umbrella Body

11. Contact DBS

General enquiries: customerservices@dbs.gov.uk

Telephone: 0300 020 0190

Welsh language line: 0300 020 0191

Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 03000 200 192