How Do You Apply for an Enhanced DBS Check Online in the UK?

Anyone applying for a role that involves close contact with children or vulnerable adults will usually be asked to complete an enhanced DBS check.

This applies to teachers, nursery staff, carers, charity workers, and increasingly, self employed people such as childminders and private tutors. Because the process involves several steps and more detail than a basic check, it often raises more questions than any other type of DBS check.

What Is an Enhanced DBS Check?

An enhanced DBS check is the highest level of criminal record check available in England and Wales.

It includes everything found on a standard check, spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings, along with any additional information held by local police forces that is considered relevant to the role being applied for.

For certain positions, particularly those involving regulated activity with children or vulnerable adults, an enhanced check also includes a search of the children’s barred list, the adults’ barred list, or both.

This is sometimes still referred to informally as an enhanced CRB check, a term left over from before the Criminal Records Bureau and Independent Safeguarding Authority merged to form the DBS.

What Does an Enhanced DBS Check Show?

• Unspent and spent convictions
• Cautions, reprimands and warnings
• Relevant police intelligence, where applicable
• Barred list information, for eligible roles

Who Needs an Enhanced DBS Check?

Not every job requires this level of check. It is generally reserved for roles defined in law as regulated activity, or positions of significant trust.

If you are unsure which level applies to your situation, the organisation offering the role, whether a school, nursery, charity, or care provider, should be able to confirm the requirement, since applying at the wrong level can delay a start date.

Enhanced DBS Checks for Different Groups

Enhanced DBS Check for Individuals and Self Employed Workers

Self employed tutors, childminders, and personal carers often need an enhanced DBS check for themselves, since there is no employer to submit the request.

In these cases, the application typically needs to go through a registered umbrella body, as individuals generally cannot apply for an enhanced check entirely alone. Many umbrella bodies now offer this as an enhanced DBS service that handles the application on the applicant’s behalf.

Enhanced DBS Checks for Schools

Schools are legally required to carry out enhanced DBS checks on staff who have contact with pupils. This is part of wider safeguarding requirements that schools must follow before a new member of staff can begin unsupervised work with children.

Enhanced DBS Checks for Nurseries and Childcare Settings

Childcare DBS checks in the UK, including those for nursery staff and childminders, are almost always carried out at enhanced level with a children’s barred list check.

This applies whether the setting is a large nursery or a single self employed childminder working from home.

Enhanced DBS Checks for Charities

Many charities rely on volunteers who work directly with children or vulnerable adults, so enhanced DBS checks for charity workers are common.

Some charities are able to apply for these checks at a reduced fee or free of charge, depending on the role and the organisation’s registration.

How to Apply for an Enhanced DBS Check

Applying for an enhanced DBS check follows a similar structure whether you are applying through an employer, a school, a charity, or an umbrella body as a self employed individual.

1. Complete the application form with personal details, address history, and the role the check relates to.
2. Verify identity documents, such as a passport or driving licence, either in person or through an online identity verification service.
3. Submit the application through the registered body or umbrella organisation handling the check.
4. Wait for processing, during which the DBS reviews police and barred list records where relevant.
5. Receive the certificate, which is usually posted to the applicant, though some services also provide a digital copy or online status update.

How Long Does an Enhanced DBS Check Take?

Processing times vary depending on how quickly identity documents are verified and whether additional police information needs to be reviewed.

Enhanced checks generally take longer than basic checks, since they involve more sources of information. Applications with accurate, matching details tend to move through the system more smoothly, while mismatched names or addresses can lead to delays.

Tracking a DBS Application

Many providers now offer a dbs tracking online facility, allowing applicants to check the status of their application without having to contact the DBS directly. This can be useful for employers coordinating several new starters at once, as well as for individuals waiting to begin a new role.

Does an Enhanced DBS Check Expire?

An enhanced DBS certificate does not carry a fixed expiry date. It reflects an individual’s record at the point the check was completed, so its relevance naturally reduces over time.

Many employers, schools, and care providers set their own renewal policy, often requesting a new check every one to three years, particularly for roles involving ongoing contact with children or vulnerable adults.

The DBS Update Service

The DBS update service allows individuals to keep their certificate current for an annual fee, rather than applying for a completely new enhanced check each time they move roles.

Employers can check an applicant’s status online, with their consent, which can significantly speed up the process when someone moves between similar positions, such as from one school to another.

Final Thoughts

An enhanced DBS check plays an important role in safeguarding children and vulnerable adults across teaching, childcare, care work, and charity settings.

Understanding how the process works, from application through to renewal, helps employers, self employed workers, and volunteers plan ahead and avoid unnecessary delays when starting a new role.

Frequently Asked Questions