They Can Get a DBS Check. You Can Ask to See It.
If you have ever hired a private tutor, a sports coach or a carer for a family member, you have probably had a version of the same uneasy thought: how do I actually know anything about this person?
Until recently, there was a frustrating gap in the answer. DBS checks above Basic level had to be applied for by an employing organisation, which meant a self-employed tutor working directly with families had no route to get one. You could ask for references and qualifications, but the check that schools and nurseries rely on simply wasn't available to the person in front of you.
That changed on 21 January 2026. Eligible self-employed workers and personal employees can now apply for an Enhanced DBS check themselves, including a check of the Children's and/or Adults' Barred Lists where the role calls for it.
On 17 September 2026, the Disclosure and Barring Service launched a public awareness campaign, Every Check Helps, to make sure families know this. Its central message is deliberately simple: they can get a DBS check, and you can ask to see it.
DBS research found that many parents and carers had no idea the option existed, and that plenty of those who did know felt awkward about raising it. This guide covers what you can ask for, how to ask, and what to actually look at if someone shares a certificate with you.
Can I apply for a DBS check on someone I'm hiring?
No. This is the single most common misunderstanding, and it's worth being clear about.
As a private individual, you cannot apply for a DBS check on behalf of someone you are looking to employ. The check belongs to the person it's about, and they have to apply for it themselves through a DBS Umbrella Body, an organisation that processes applications on behalf of individuals.
What you can do is ask whether they hold a certificate and whether they'd be willing to share it with you.
If the person you're hiring doesn't have one yet and wants to get sorted, they can check their eligibility and apply through MyCheck, which is built specifically for self-employed people and personal employees.
Who can get an Enhanced DBS check now?
Not everyone. Eligibility depends on the work being done and who it's being done with, so it isn't something that can be assumed from a job title alone.
Depending on the activities involved, people who may now be eligible include:
private tutors
sports coaches
music teachers
personal assistants
self-employed carers
The DBS eligibility tool on GOV.UK is the definitive place to check whether a particular role qualifies.
How do I ask without it being awkward?
Most people find this the hardest part. It can feel like you're accusing someone of something, particularly if you already like them and the conversation has been going well.
It helps to reframe it. Asking about a DBS certificate is no different from asking for references or checking a qualification. It's a normal part of deciding who works with your child or your family member, and any professional will have expected the question.
DBS suggests wording along these lines:
"Before we go ahead, I'd love to see your DBS certificate. I understand you can now apply for an Enhanced one — would you be happy to share it?"
Or, more briefly:
"Could I see your Enhanced DBS certificate alongside your references and qualifications?"
Raising it early, as part of the same conversation as qualifications and references, tends to land far more naturally than bringing it up at the end.
What should I look for on a DBS certificate?
If someone does share their certificate, there are five things worth checking.
1. It's the original. Copies and photographs are not acceptable and should be rejected. A genuine DBS certificate carries security features designed to reveal counterfeits and alterations. If you have doubts about whether a certificate is genuine, you can contact DBS at FDIT@dbs.gov.uk.
2. The name matches the person. Check the details against the certificate, ideally alongside a government-issued photo ID such as a passport or driving licence.
3. It's for the right workforce. This one is easy to miss. Look at the "position applied for" field. If the person will be working with your child, you'd expect to see wording along the lines of "child workforce". A certificate issued for work with adults doesn't tell you what you need to know about work with children, and vice versa.
4. The issue date. DBS certificates have no official expiry date. They are accurate on the day they are issued, and nothing more. A certificate issued three years ago tells you about three years ago, so take the date into account.
5. Whether they're on the DBS Update Service. This is what closes the gap left by point four, and it's covered below.
If the certificate shows the person is barred from working with the group they'd be working with, you must not employ them. Seeking work in regulated activity while barred is a criminal offence, and it is also an offence to knowingly employ someone barred to do that work. If you become aware of this, contact the police.
What is the DBS Update Service, and can I use it?
The Update Service is an online subscription that individuals can join to keep their certificate information current. If the person you're hiring is subscribed, you can run a free, instant status check online to see whether anything has changed since their certificate was issued.
You don't need an account to do this. You do need to be able to confirm three things:
you have the individual's consent
the role is eligible for the level of check being presented
you have the right to view that level of check
One practical note that trips people up: the status check asks for an organisation name. If you're hiring as a private individual, DBS suggests entering "private employer".
What if they don't have a certificate?
There are a few versions of this, and none of them is automatically a red flag.
They don't have one. Plenty of people simply haven't applied yet, particularly given how recent the change is. You may want to consider whether you have enough other information to make a decision, or whether you'd prefer to wait until they do have one.
They've applied and are waiting. Enhanced checks take longer than other levels, and certificates are posted rather than issued online, so there can be a genuine wait. Worth discussing timings with them.
They'd rather not share it. The certificate belongs to them, and sharing it is their choice. If they decline, you're back to weighing up everything else you know: references, qualifications, experience, recommendations and your own read on the person.
A DBS certificate is not a pass or fail
This matters, and DBS is emphatic about it.
As Susie Blamire, Associate Director and Strategic Lead for Safeguarding at DBS, put it when the campaign launched: "A DBS certificate is only one part of the picture, but it can be a valuable part. It should be considered alongside references, recommendations, qualifications, experience, and personal judgement."
A clear certificate doesn't guarantee someone is right for the role. Nor does disclosed information automatically mean someone is unsuitable. Applicants should be treated fairly and not discriminated against unfairly on the basis of a conviction, caution or other disclosed information, and an open, measured conversation about anything revealed is usually the right response. That said, if what's disclosed genuinely worries you about the safety of your child or family member, that concern should be your main consideration.
It's also worth remembering the safeguards that have nothing to do with paperwork: sitting in on the first few sessions, keeping communication open, and continuing to pay attention to how the arrangement is working.
Handling someone's certificate responsibly
Two rules that are easy to overlook, and both matter:
Don't keep a copy. No photocopies, no photographs, no written record of the contents.
Don't share what you've seen. Certificate information is for your specific decision about that person's suitability for that role. It should not be passed on to anyone else.
The short version
Since January 2026, eligible self-employed workers and personal employees can get an Enhanced DBS check, so the option now exists where it never used to. You can't arrange it for them, but you can ask to see it. If they share it, check that it's the original, that the name and photo ID match, that it covers the right workforce, when it was issued, and whether they're on the Update Service. Then weigh it up alongside everything else you know.
No single check tells you everything. But every check helps.
Are you the one being asked?
If a client or a parent has asked to see your DBS certificate and you don't have one yet, MyCheck is a dedicated DBS service for self-employed people, sole traders and personal employees. Check your eligibility in minutes and apply entirely online at www.mycheck.co.uk.