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Read moreEnhanced DBS Checks for Self-Employed Individuals: What’s Changed from 21 January 2026
As safeguarding expectations continue to rise across education, care and personal employment, access to appropriate background checks has become increasingly important for families, personal employers and self-employed professionals. The extension of Enhanced DBS access reflects wider changes in how suitability, trust and accountability are assessed outside traditional employment structures.
Previously, self-employed people could only apply for a Basic DBS check. If an Enhanced DBS check was required, an employing organisation had to apply on their behalf. From 21 January 2026, self-employed workers and personal employees who are paid for their roles can apply for Enhanced and Enhanced with Barred List(s) DBS checks through a DBS Umbrella Body , provided their role is eligible.
These changes mean that individuals working directly with children or vulnerable adults, such as private tutors, carers and personal employees, can now access a level of disclosure that more closely reflects the responsibilities of their role.
Where eligible, Enhanced DBS checks may include spent and unspent convictions and cautions (subject to filtering rules), any police information considered relevant and proportionate to disclose by a chief officer and, where applicable, checks against the Children’s and/or Adults’ Barred Lists.
This legislative change aligns safeguarding practice for self-employment more closely with standards already applied in employed regulated and high-risk sectors.
Who Does This Apply To?
This applies to paid self-employed individuals and personal employees whose roles involve responsibility, trust or regulated activity. Examples include:
- Private tutors
- Childminders
- Carers and personal assistants
- Therapists and counsellors
- Other self-employed professionals providing regulated or safeguarding-relevant services
For families and personal employers, the change provides access to higher-level background checks where responsibility and risk justify it.
What Does an Enhanced DBS Check Include?
An Enhanced DBS check can include:
- Spent and unspent convictions and cautions, subject to DBS filtering rules
- Police information considered relevant and proportionate to disclose
- Children’s and/or adults’ barred list checks, where the role involves regulated activity
According to Lord Timpson, Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending: “Enhanced DBS checks provide clear, reliable information about individuals’ backgrounds, helping families and personal employers identify risks and keep those with harmful intentions far away from children and vulnerable adults.”
Why This Change Matters
Until now, families and personal employers have had limited options for carrying out higher-level criminal records checks, even where individuals work closely with children or vulnerable adults.
Access to Enhanced DBS checks allows personal employers to apply safeguarding standards, make informed suitability decisions aligned with the responsibilities of the role.
How Can Self-Employed Individuals Apply for an Enhanced DBS Check?
Self-employed individuals and personal employees are unable to apply directly to the DBS. Applications must be made via a registered or umbrella body.
As a registered and trusted DBS Umbrella Body, CBS is able to offer this service. Applicants can visit the CBS website to make an application or request additional information. Each applicant will be guided through the process to ensure:
- The DBS check requested is relevant to the role
- The application complies with DBS processing standards
- Identity verification is completed correctly
If you are looking to make use of the services of a self-employed person you cannot apply for a DBS check on their behalf. The individual must apply themselves through a registered DBS Umbrella Body. You may ask to view the applicant’s original DBS certificate as part of your recruitment considerations and, where applicable, use the DBS Update Service to check whether a certificate is up to date.
How CBS Supports Self-Employed and Personal Employer DBS Applications
CBS supports self-employed individuals personal employees with a clear, compliant and structured DBS process, helping to ensure:
- Correct eligibility decisions
- Reliable identity verification
- Applications that meet DBS standards
- Clear guidance at every stage
Whether you’re applying as a self-employed professional or employing someone directly, our expert team helps make the process clear and easy to manage.
Get Started
If you’d like to apply for an Enhanced DBS check or need help understanding eligibility under the new legislation, our team is here to help.
Get in touch with our team to discuss your requirements.
FAQs
Would an applicant need to prove that they are entitled to apply for a check in line with the legislation change?
No, the applicant would only need to confirm their job role and provide a self-declaration that they are eligible for an Enhanced Disclosure / Enhanced Disclosure with barred lists (where applicable). CBS will provide this information to the applicant during the application process.
Does the DBS define who is considered to be a self-employed individual and personal employee?
Yes, please refer to the DBS website for the definition – https://www.gov.uk/guidance/dbs-checks-for-self-employed-people-and-personal-employees
Will the applicant need to have an identity check
Yes, the options for ID checking remain unchanged. CBS is able to offer a digital identity check and if the applicant is unable to complete the digital identity check, CBS will facilitate an in-branch verification at a participating Post Office of the applicant’s choosing.
Will the applicant be able to submit a volunteer application?
This legislative change only extends to individuals who are self-employed and personally employed and are paid for their services. Therefore, all applications being submitted due to this legislation change will be subject to the DBS fee.
Can a self-employed applicant join the Update Service?
Yes. You will receive a notification from CBS once your application is in progress with the DBS and you will be provided with an E-reference number. You can use this number to join the update service. Details on how to join the Update Service can be found here.
How can the applicant pay for their check?
CBS will provide you with a link to submit your application and during the process, you will be provided with details on how to pay for both the DBS and the digital identity check.
What happens if the applicant fails the identity check?
If the applicant is unable to verify their identity via digital identity, they will be provided with details of how to verify their identity at a participating Post Office branch of their choosing
Will the applicant need to pay for the in-branch identity verification at the Post Office?
Yes, once the applicant’s identity has been verified at the Post Office, the applicant will be required to pay for the check and the Post Office will send a notification to CBS that the identity has been verified and CBS will then submit the application to the DBS.
