Hiring a carer or cleaner · Guide 1 of 7
DBS checks: an option worth knowing about
Arranging help often happens quickly, after a fall, a stay in hospital or a diagnosis such as dementia, at a time that's already stressful. These short guides aren't hoops to jump through. They're simply things worth knowing, so you can decide what matters to you and your family.
A DBS check is a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service, a government body. The person checked gets a certificate showing what, if anything, was on their record on the day it was issued.
It isn't a legal requirement when you hire a self-employed carer or cleaner privately, and plenty of people who would be a great fit won't have a recent one. It's one option among several, alongside meeting them, a trial visit and how your loved one gets on with them. If it would give you peace of mind, it's perfectly reasonable to ask.
If you'd like to know more, there are different levels:
- Basic: shows unspent convictions. Anyone can apply for one, so it's the most common, especially for cleaners.
- Enhanced: also shows spent convictions, cautions and relevant police information. Since January 2026, self-employed carers doing eligible work, such as personal care, can apply for one themselves.
- Enhanced with the Adults’ Barred List: also shows whether someone is barred from working with vulnerable adults.
If someone does show you a certificate, it's worth checking the name matches their photo ID and noting the date it was issued. If they've joined the DBS Update Service, they can give you permission to check online, on GOV.UK, whether anything has changed since.
In Scotland the equivalent is a Disclosure Scotland check, and carers working with vulnerable adults may be members of the PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) scheme.