Types of DBS Checks and Who They Are For

• Enhanced DBS, Child Workforce, Excluding Child Barred List
• Enhanced DBS, Adult Workforce, Excluding Adult Barred List
• Enhanced DBS, Other Workforce, Excluding Child/Adult Barred List

• Enhanced DBS, Child Workforce, Including Child Barred List
• Enhanced DBS, Adult Workforce, Including Adult Barred List
• Enhanced DBS, Other Workforce, Including Child/Adult Barred List

1.  Types of Criminal Record Check available

In the UK, their are 4 x types of Criminal Record Check available:

Basic DBS Checks and Level 1 (Basic) Scotland Checks can be obtained for anyone, for any reason (with their permission).

Standard and Enhanced DBS Eligibility criteria are strictly regulated by law and are only available for specific roles.  

2.  What Searches are included in each type of DBS Check?

3.  How to Determine if you can obtain a DBS check on a person.

3a. Can you obtain a Standard or Enhanced DBS check for your staff member or volunteer?

To be able to obtain a Standard or Enhanced DBS check (Standard or Enhanced DBS), you must first check that the position/role of your member of staff or volunteer is included in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 and/or in the Police Act Regulations.  

Roles that meet this criteria are listed in our easy-to-read DBS eligibility guide provided further down this webpage.

3b.  If you can't obtain a Standard or Enhanced DBS check you can obtain a Basic DBS check or a Basic Disclosure Scotland Check instead:

3c.  Now you've determined that you can obtain a Standard or Enhanced DBS check, which level can you obtain? 

4.  Other Factors to Consider:

4a.  Volunteers

Roles that meet the DBS definition of a volunteer are eligible for a reduced processing fee.  Note: This applies only to Standard DBS or Enhanced DBS applications.  It does not apply to Basic DBS or Basic Disclosure Scotland applications.

Does your role meet the DBS definition of a volunteer?  Click here to find out (Question EL5) or refer to the DBS Volunteer Guidance.

The workforce type needs to be entered on the DBS Application form.  

What workforce type does your role fall under?  Click here to find out (Question EB5) or refer to the DBS Workforce Guidance.

4b.  Workforce Type

Note: This information is for guidance only and should not be considered a substitute for legal advice. It is the responsibility of the employer/recruiting organisation to determine whether eligibility exists in line with the current legislation.

5.  DBS Eligibility Criteria - Roles which you can obtain a DBS check on

 5a.  Basic DBS Check or Level 1 Disclosure Scotland Check

A Basic DBS Check or a Level 1 Disclosure Scotland Check is available for ANY purpose; for example:

**Note: This website provides a DBS checking service for Companies requiring two or more DBS checks. 

Individuals can obtain their own Basic DBS check or Level 1 Disclosure Scotland through our sister website:  www.basicpolicecheck.co

• Any role where it is in the interest of a customer/employer to obtain a criminal record history; e.g: working in a position of trust, or working in premises unsupervised.
• Alcohol / Personal Licence.
• Visa Applications.
• Aviation Security sector (Airport-side staff).
• Anti-Money Laundering Regulations (AML) compliance:
• "BOOMs": Beneficial Owners, Officers and Managers: These are people in "supervised sectors" ie: Legal Firms, Accountancy Firms and Estate Agents, who ultimately hold responsibility for senior decision-making in that organisation. This includes shareholders, partners, directors, company secretaries, MLROs, board members, principals, senior managers, or members of a management committee, and the like. 

A Standard DBS check can be requested for a role which is listed in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.  A complete list of these roles is available here.

5b.  Standard DBS Check:

Legislative Wording 16: Any work that relates to providing care services to vulnerable adults and which is of such a kind as to enable a person, in the course of his normal duties, to have access to vulnerable adults in receipt of such services.

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Legislative Wording 17: Any employment or other work which is concerned with the provision of health services, and which is of such a kind as to enable the holder of that employment, or the person engaged in that work to have access to persons in receipt of such services in the course of his normal duties. 

People working in an NHS setting who have contact with patients (not a healthcare role) - Workforce Type = "Child and Adult Workforce".

Any Non-Healthcare role that relates to providing health services where the work involves contact with patients.

e.g.: maintenance workers, engineers, tradespersons, catering staff, drivers, porters, cleaners, admin

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NHS Counter Fraud Authority roles involving the investigation of fraud, corruption or any other illegal activity and security management.

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Legal Profession positions: e.g: barrister, solicitor, registered foreign lawyer, legal executive, receiver appointed by the Court of Protection, Judicial appointment, Chartered Legal Executives (CILEx)  - Workforce Type = "Other Workforce".

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 Financial Services positions: Positions in the financial sector that are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, the Prudential Regulatory Authority or the Bank of England, or firms acting on their behalf.  These are commonly referred to as being an approved person, a senior manager or carrying out a controlled function.

For example, a senior manager or someone carrying out a controlled function, and chartered accountants and certified accountants - Workforce Type = "Other Workforce".

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 FCA Approved Person application: for individuals within firms who carry out a controlled function requiring FCA authorisation to offer loans, car financing deals or other consumer credit.  Workforce Type = "Other Workforce".

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People working in the Security Industry (*only for the purpose of obtaining an SIA Licence), Traffic Wardens, Veterinary surgeons- Workforce Type = "Other Workforce".

*DBS application must be processed by the SIA.

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Special Guardians and those aged 18 years old and over living in the same household - Workforce Type: Child Workforce

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Any work for an adoption service, an adoption support agency, a voluntary adoption agency, a fostering service or a fostering agency where that work means that there is contact with the children or access to sensitive or personal information about them 

Note: This doesn’t include prospective foster or adoptive parents or their household members - they are eligible for Enhanced DBS checks; see section 5d below. 

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Justices’ clerks, assistants to justices’ clerks and certain specific officers for magistrates’ courts, justices of the peace and local justice areas 

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Individuals in any role to do with the running of, or working on the premises of a 

a. prison, 

b. a remand centre, a removal centre, a short term holding facility, 

c. a detention centre, a Borstal institution or a young offenders institution and members of boards of visitors.  

Note: Some roles in these places can be eligible for an enhanced DBS check.

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Court officers and court contractors who have face-to-face contact with judges of the Supreme Court, or access to Supreme Court judges’ lodgings as part of their work

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Individuals who have regular access to personal information about an identified or identifiable member of the judiciary as part of their work 

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Court officers and court contractors who go to either the Royal Courts of Justice or the Central Criminal Court as part of their work

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Court security officers and tribunal security officers 

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Court contractors who have unsupervised access to court houses, offices and other buildings used in relation to the courts as part of their work 

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Contractors, sub-contractors, and anyone working with them, who have unsupervised access to tribunal buildings, offices and other buildings used in relation to tribunals as part of their work

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COVID-19 Testers:

Removing saliva or mucus from the mouth or nose of an individual or taking blood by finger-prick, where that is being done for the purpose of testing the presence of coronavirus in that individual. ** According to The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (Regulated Activities) (Coronavirus) Order 2020, eligibility applies from 17th April 2020 to 17th October 2021.

Note: If blood is taken by needle (Phlebotomy), this is "Regulated Activity" and requires an Enhanced DBS including Barred List.

5c.  Enhanced DBS Check (EXCLUDING Barred List check):

A full list of eligible roles with associated Legislative Wordingis available here.

ENHANCED DBS, CHILD WORKFORCE, EXCLUDING CHILD BARRING:

1.  Staff, Temporary Contractor or Volunteer working in the following CHILD-related "REGULATED PLACES" (Supervised roles only) - 

**Note if UNSUPERVISED and frequent, the Children's barred list will be needed - see section 5d below

a. Educational Institution mainly used for the full-time education of children (e.g.: a School)

b. Further Education college or 16-19 Academy where the work they do brings them into regular* contact with students aged under 18 - * regular should be applied by each organisation in line with the dictionary definition

c. Children's Nursery

d. Children’s Hospital

e. Children's Detention Centre (e.g.: a prison, remand centre), 

f.  Children’s Care home

g.  Registered Childcare Premises 

Note: An Enhanced DBS including the Children's Barred List Check will be required if they will have unsupervised contact with pupils once a week or more, or 3 days in any 30-day period, or overnight (between 2am and 6am)  

3. Trustee of Children's Charity

4. School Governor

5. Foster Care Panel Members **see section 5d for other Foster Care roles

ENHANCED DBS, ADULT WORKFORCE, EXCLUDING ADULT BARRING:

1. Individuals who work with elderly, ill or disabled ADULTS (18+ years old) once a week or more, or 3 days in any 30-day period, or overnight (between 2am and 6am), providing:  

• training or teaching
• instruction or assistance
• advice or guidance
• moderating a public electronic interactive communication service which is likely to be used wholly or mainly by adults who receive a health or social care service

2. REGULATED PLACES WITH ADULTS:

Individuals who work with elderly, ill or disabled ADULTS (18+ years old) who work once a week or more, or 4 days in any 30-day period, or overnight (between 2am and 6am) in the following ADULT-related REGULATED PLACES: 

• an adults' residential Care Home or Nursing Home (a residential setting where older people live and receive personal care)
• an adults' residential Special School
• sheltered housing (accommodation for elderly or disabled people consisting of private independent units with some shared facilities and a warden)
• any service provided specifically to an expectant or nursing mother in receipt of residential accommodation pursuant to arrangements made under section 21(1)(aa) of the National Assistance Act 1948 or care pursuant to paragraph 1 of Schedule 20 to the National Health Service Act 2006

3. Trustee of a Vulnerable Adults' Charity

4. Roles authorised to deliver Probation services

5. Members of Peer Support Groups (e.g.: Alcoholics Anonymous)

ENHANCED DBS, OTHER WORKFORCE, EXCLUDING CHILD & ADULT

BARRING:

1. Armed Security Guards working for a government department, for example:  The Home Office

2. Armed Guard on UK Ships:  To assess an individual's suitability to possess, remove or transfer a weapon or ammunition,to or from others when acting as an Armed Guard on UK Ships

3. National Security Purposes:  To assess if someone is suitable to carry out a role where the work is for National Security Purposes

4. Staff working within the Gambling Commission

This is the highest-level and most in-depth Criminal Record Check available and is strictly regulated by relevant Law.

An Enhanced level DBS check, including abarred list check, is only available if an individual's role meets the criteria listed below.

A full list of eligible roles with associated Legislative Wording is available here.  

5d.  Enhanced DBS Check (INCLUDING Barred List check) "Regulated

Activity".

ENHANCED DBS, CHILD WORKFORCE, INCLUDING CHILD BARRING:

• A Child is defined as anyone who is under 18 years old.
• Workforce Type = "Child Workforce", including Child Barred List:

1. REGULATED ROLES WITH CHILDREN:

Individuals who work with CHILDREN:

• FREQUENTLY (once a week or more, or 3 days in any 30-day period, or overnight (between 2am and 6am) in the following "REGULATED ROLES"  (*from 1st September 2026, whether they are unsupervised or not):  

a. teaching, training or instruction to children 

b.  care or supervision of children

c.  advice or guidance wholly or mainly to children and this specifically relates to their emotional, educational or physical well-being 

d.  monitor the content of internet-based services aimed wholly or mainly for use by children

e.  drive children for a third party (ie: on an employment basis), where the vehicle is being used only to convey children, and any person supervising or caring for the children whilst being driven 

f.  health care to children, either as a health care professional or under the direction or supervision of a health care professional. This includes providing psychotherapy and counselling and also covers first aiders where they provide this through an organisation set up specifically to provide first aid, e.g. St John’s Ambulance and community first responders. This only has to be done once. 

g.   personal care to children (physical assistance or advice with eating, drinking, washing, going to the toilet, dressing).  This only has to be done once. 

h. A Day-to-Day Manager or Supervisor of somebody engaging in Regulated Activity (listed in points a to g above) with children.

*Note:  The following exceptions to the above apply: 

• A 16- or 17-year-old "in work", i.e., in employment, on an apprenticeship or volunteering, is considered an adult for DBS checking purposes.  A DBS check is not required for somebody who supervises or teaches a 16 or 17-year-old who is in work
• A Child-related DBS check cannot be requested if the service is provided and designed for adults.  Therefore, the presence of a child is unexpected, i.e. an adult attends a night class and brings their child with them, or these activities are being provided to 16 and 17-year-olds in work (including voluntary work) 

2.  REGULATED PLACES WITH CHILDREN

Individuals who work with CHILDREN UNSUPERVISED, AND FREQUENTLY (once a week or more, or 3 days in any 30-day period, or overnight (between 2am and 6am) in the following "REGULATED PLACES"

(*if they are supervised, their role is eligible for an Enhanced DBS, Child Workforce excluding the children's barred list):

a.  educational institution mainly used for the full-time education of children (e.g.: school, under-18 further education)

b.  children's nursery

c.  children’s hospital

d.  children's detention centre (e.g.: prison, remand centre), 

e.  children’s care home

f.  registered childcare premises 

3.  The following Child-related roles, even if done only once (without the period conditions specified above)

• Assisting an ill or disabled child to eat or drink
• Assisting a child that is ill, disabled or required due to age with toileting, washing, bathing or dressing
• Health care to children: (treatment/therapy) all forms of physical / mental health healthcare incl. palliative care

 4.  The following Foster Care Roles:

• Foster Carers
• Foster Care Household Members:  Individuals aged 18 and over (according to Dept for Education regulations) who live in a fostering household or anyone aged 16 and over who lives in a private fostering household
• Foster Carer Support: Individuals providing support to Foster Carers by supervising or providing childcare to Foster Children
• Foster Care Assessors

*Note: 

• Foster Care Panel Members are only eligible for Enhanced DBS , excluding the Child Barred List check (see section 5c above)
• Foster Care Agency staff who do not provide childcare to Foster Children are only eligible for a Standard level DBS check (see section 5b above)

5.  Prospective adoptive parents or special guardians and anyone aged 18 and over who lives in the adoptive or special guardian household

6. A person living at a registered childminding or day care service premises or who regularly works on the premises at a time when the childminding takes place

7. Homestay Hosts:  Roles that provide hosting for under-18-year-olds  

ENHANCED DBS, ADULT WORKFORCE, INCLUDING ADULT BARRING:

• Note: For DBS purposes, an Adult is someone who is 18+ years old and who is elderly, ill or disabled.
• Workforce Type = "Adult Workforce", including Adult Barred List:

REGULATED ROLES WITH ADULTS:

Individuals engaged in any of the following "Regulated activities", with an ADULT (18+ years old) because of their AGE, ILLNESS or DISABILITY 

1.   Provision of Health Care by a regulated healthcare professional, or acting under the direction or supervision of a regulated healthcare professional, for example, doctors, nurses, healthcare assistants and physiotherapists.  Health Care roles include:

a.   Physical care, mental health care and palliative care

b.  Diagnostic tests and investigative procedures.  Note: This includes blood taken by needle (Phlebotomy)

c.  Non-medical procedures such as taking blood (blood donations) and cosmetic surgery

d.  Psychotherapy and counselling.  This includes providing psychotherapy and counselling over the phone. Note: Life coaching is excluded from regulated activity.

e.   First Aid, when any person administering the first aid is doing so on behalf of an organisation established to provide first aid (for example, St John Ambulance Service), this is regulated activity. This includes first aid given by Community First Responders.  

Note:  An individual employed for another purpose who volunteers, or is designated to be that organisation’s first aider is not in regulated activity. For example, a person who works in a department store whose role includes being a first aider is not engaging in regulated activity.

Exclusions to the supervision of healthcare:  Staff in GP surgeries or dental practices who do NOT provide health care (for example, a medical receptionist) are NOT classified as regulated activity - a Standard level DBS check will be sufficient; see section 5b above.

2.   Providing Personal Care:

a. Defined as assisting or prompting an adult with eating, drinking, washing, bathing, dressing, oral care, skin/nail care

b.  Training, instructing or offering advice or guidance to an adult in relation to personal care

c.   Supervising someone providing personal care

3.   Providing Social Work; activities of regulated social workers (relevant social work has the meaning given by section 55(4) of the Care Standards Act 2000 and a social care worker by virtue of section 55(2)(a) of that act); including:

• Assessing/reviewing the need for health or social care services
• Providing support

4.   Assistance with general household matters (day-to-day assistance in relation to the running of a household of the person concerned where the assistance is the carrying out of one or more of the following activities on behalf of that person):

• Managing a person’s cash
• Paying a person’s bills
• Doing their shopping

5.   Assistance in the conduct of a person’s own affairs:

• Lasting/enduring power of attorney (not including family)
• Appointed adult’s deputy
• Independent mental health advocate
• Independent mental capacity advocate
• Providing independent advocacy services
• Receiving payments on behalf of an adult under the Social Security Administration Act
• An order by the court of protection

6.   Transporting / Conveying:

Drivers or assistants transporting adults because of the age, illness or disability to, from or between places where they receive healthcare, personal care or social work (not including family, friends).  

This includes:    

• Hospital porters
• Patient Transport Service drivers and assistants
• Ambulance Technicians
• Emergency Care Assistants.

7.  A day-to-day manager or Supervisor of somebody engaging in a regulated role with adults  (points 1-6 above).

ENHANCED DBS, OTHER WORKFORCE, INCLUDING CHILD & ADULT

BARRING:

1.  Applicants for a Taxi or Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) licence

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