Source: Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) published on this website Wednesday 21 January 2026
This guidance is live from 21 January 2026
.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.
Legislative changes coming into force on 21 January 2026 will allow self-employed individuals and personal employees to apply for Enhanced and Enhanced with Barred List(s) DBS checks for the first time.
What is changing
Currently, self-employed people can only apply for a Basic DBS check. If they need an Enhanced check, an employing organisation must apply on their behalf.
From 21 January, self-employed workers and personal employees who are paid for their roles will be able to apply for Enhanced or Enhanced with Barred List(s) checks through a DBS umbrella body, provided their role is eligible.
This change will benefit workers such as:
- private tutors offering lessons directly to children
- personal employees hired directly by individuals, for example through direct payments or personal health budgets
What is not changing
Existing routes for DBS checks remain the same. If you work for an organisation, or contract your services to one, your employer can continue to apply for checks on your behalf.
Eligibility criteria are unchanged. You can only apply for an Enhanced or Enhanced with Barred List(s) check if your role qualifies under existing rules.
How to apply
Self-employed people and personal employees can apply through a registered DBS Umbrella Body. Use the find an Umbrella Body tool on GOV.UK and filter for organisations that process checks for self-employed individuals.
The existing DBS fees apply, and Umbrella Bodies may charge their own administration fees.
Read the full guidance: DBS checks for self-employed people and personal employees
Information for private individuals
If you are looking to hire a self-employed person or personal employee, you cannot apply for a DBS check on their behalf. They must apply themselves through an umbrella body.
You can ask to view an applicant’s original DBS certificate as part of your recruitment considerations, and use the free DBS Update Service to check whether a certificate is up to date.
Read the full guidance: Employing self-employed people and personal employees
There is also new guidance for Private individuals employing self-employed workers or personal employees
This guidance is also live from 21 January 2026
A personal employee or someone who is self-employed is able to obtain an Enhanced or Enhanced with Barred List(s) DBS check on themselves if they are eligible.
As a private individual looking to take on the services of a self-employed person or a personal employee, as part of your recruitment considerations, you can ask to view their DBS certificate, if it is the appropriate type of check for the role.
The application process
As a private individual you cannot apply for a DBS check on behalf of the person you are looking to recruit. They need to do this themselves via an Umbrella Body. Applicants can find out about this process on the DBS checks for self-employed people and personal employees GOV.UK page.
What should I be looking for on a DBS Certificate?
As part of your decision-making process, you must ensure you have seen an original DBS certificate. Copies or digital photographs are not acceptable and must be rejected. A DBS certificate contains security features which can be used to verify whether it has been counterfeited or altered. Further information about checking the validity of a DBS certificate can be found on the DBS checks: guidance for employers GOV.UK page.
If you are unsure whether a DBS certificate is genuine, or you think that it may have been altered, you should contact DBS at FDIT@dbs.gov.uk.
Alongside the security features, you should also be checking to make sure that the details the candidate has supplied you with match what is on their certificate e.g. full name etc.
You’ll also need to check:
- the details the applicant has provided match what is on the DBS certificate. Best practice would be to view a government issued photo Identity document. Alternative combinations of identity documents can be found on the ID checking guidelines GOV.UK page.
- that the certificate is for the right workforce. For example, if the applicant is working with your child you would expect to see wording including phrasing similar to ‘child workforce’ in the position applied for field
- check if any criminal conviction information or police intelligence has been released on the certificate. If it has, please see the next section.
- the date the certificate was issued. DBS certificates are accurate on the day they are issued and for those not on the Update Service you should be mindful of how long ago the certificate was issued.
If the DBS certificate the applicant presents states they are barred from the group (children or adults) they are seeking to work with you must not employ them. They are committing a criminal offence by seeking work in regulated activity whilst barred and you should report them to the police.
How do I consider information on a DBS check?
DBS checks are just one part of considering whether an individual is suitable for a role. There are other elements of safer recruitment decision making to consider and you may wish to look at guidance from other relevant organisations, for example Nacro (Employer Advice Service) or Unlock. Other organisations such as the NSPCC and Skills for Care (Safer Employment resources) provide sector specific guidance.
As a general point, all applicants for positions should be treated fairly and not discriminated unfairly against on the basis of a conviction, caution or other information revealed. However, if the information disclosed on the certificate makes you feel worried about the safety of a child or vulnerable adult the individual is due to be working with this should be your main consideration.
DBS would suggest that open and measured discussions take place on the subject of any offences or other matter that might be revealed on a DBS check with the applicant.
Please note that DBS certificate information must only be used for a specific employment suitability decision and the applicant must give you consent to view the certificate. DBS certificate information must not be shared with any third party.
You should not keep any photocopy or other image of the certificate or any copy or representation of the contents of a certificate.
Update Service
The Update Service is an online subscription that lets you carry out a free, instant online check to view the status of an existing Enhanced or Enhanced with Barred List(s) DBS certificate of an individual you are looking to employ. Please note the individual applicant will need to subscribe to use this service.
You don’t need to create an account to run a status check, but you do need to be able to confirm that:
- you have the individuals consent to do the check
- you have the right to ask the exempted question (the role is eligible for an Enhanced/Enhanced with Barred List(s) DBS check)
- you have the right to view the level of DBS check being presented to you.
As part of running a status check you will be asked to enter an organisation name. As an individual not part of an organisation we’d suggest entering the phrase ‘private employer’ into the organisation name box.
More information about the Update Service and completing status checks is available online on the DBS Update Service: employer guide GOV.UK page.
Misconduct concerns
If you suspect any criminal conduct you should report this to the police.
There is also further guidance from other organisations on how to approach misconduct concerns.
Please refer to this guidance from the NSPCC in relation to those working with children - Reporting child abuse and neglect- NSPCC. For concerns about the conduct of personal employees working with adults please refer to this guidance - Sorting out problems.
Contact DBS
DBS contact information is available on the homepage.
