DBS checks for self-employed people and personal employees
Guidance on how self-employed individuals and personal employees can apply for Enhanced or Enhanced with Barred List(s) DBS checks through an Umbrella Body.
Overview
This guidance is live from 21 January 2026
This page will tell you how to apply for a DBS check. The information below is for self-employed individuals and personal employees.
A self-employed person is an individual who works for themselves rather than being employed by an organisation. For example, a private maths tutor who offers one to one lessons to students in their homes.
A personal employee is someone employed directly by a private individual to deliver services either to them or a member of their family. For example, someone with a Personal Health Budget may directly employ an individual as a carer – this person would be a personal employee.
It is down to the self-employed person or personal employee to apply for their own Enhanced DBS check via a DBS Umbrella Body. An Umbrella Body is an organisation that has registered with DBS to process DBS check applications. You cannot ask the private employer/parent to obtain this on your behalf.
If you are a self-employed individual contracting your services to an organisation, they may apply on your behalf in line with their policies. We recommend you discuss this with them.
How to apply for an Enhanced or Enhanced with Barred List(s) DBS check
Step 1
Establish if the role you are undertaking is eligible for an Enhanced or Enhanced with Barred List(s) DBS check, using our eligibility guidance.
Step 2
If the role you are doing is eligible for an Enhanced or Enhanced with Barred List(s) DBS check you will need to use a DBS Umbrella Body to process the check for you.
You can find a list of Umbrella Bodies on the find an Umbrella Body GOV.UK page. Use the filters on the left-hand side to filter by organisations that can process checks for self-employed individuals. This is also applicable to personal employees.
You can find out the cost of a DBS check on the guidance for employers GOV.UK page. Please note that Umbrella Bodies will also apply their own administration fees in addition to the DBS check fee.
Step 3
The Umbrella Body will guide you through the application process and as part of this you will be asked to prove your identity in line with DBS ID checking requirements.
At the point of application, you may wish to consider joining the Update Service using your application reference number. Joining the Update Service enables self-employed professionals with multiple clients to efficiently demonstrate that their DBS certificate remains up to date. For more information, please see the Update Service GOV.UK page.
Once your application has been submitted and processed by DBS your certificate will be sent to you in the post. You can find out more about the different stages of the DBS process on the Police role in the DBS checking process GOV.UK page.
Step 4
Once you have received your certificate you will be able to show this to individuals employing your services.
You can find out more about the information that might appear on Enhanced or Enhanced with Barred List(s) DBS checks on the DBS checks: guidance for employers GOV.UK page.
Examples
Example 1
Peter provides maths tutoring to children in his local area. Peter is not affiliated with an agency or an employer and undertakes this work as a self-employed individual. On average he works 2 evenings a week.
Peter is able to apply for an Enhanced with Barred List DBS check in the child workforce via an Umbrella Body.
Once Peter has received his certificate he will be able to show this to the parents/carers/guardians of the children who are looking to hire him. They can ask to view his certificate and use this information as part of considering Peter’s suitability to work with their child.
Example 2
Kelly is a personal carer – she provides support to adult clients who wish to recruit her under the direct payments scheme. As part of this support Kelly will provide personal care to clients as well as doing their shopping for them.
Kelly is eligible for an Enhanced with Barred List DBS check in the adult workforce. Kelly is able to apply via an Umbrella Body.
Once Kelly has received her certificate she will be able to show this to the individual recruiting her services. They will then be able to use this information as part of considering Kelly’s suitability to work with them.
Example 3
Jason is a self-employed plumber, he is interested in getting an Enhanced with Barred List(s) DBS check in the child and adult workforces, as he believes this is needed for his role which involves entering customer’s homes.
The Umbrella Body he approaches advises he is not eligible for this type of DBS check and Jason can consider applying for a Basic DBS check.
Contact DBS
DBS contact information is available on the homepage.