DBS Checks for Care Workers
Care providers are legally required to conduct DBS checks in order to comply with Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulations. Since 2015, Checks Direct has supported care homes and agencies, providing simple and efficient DBS application processes to ensure they meet regulatory standards and benefit from continued protection.
Which care workers need a DBS check?
DBS checks are a legal requirement for the majority of health and social care positions. This measure safeguards vulnerable people receiving treatment, care, or support in these sectors. Enhanced DBS and Adults’ Barred list checks are required for anyone engaging in ‘regulated activities’ regarding vulnerable people, and anyone responsible for managing those staff members.
If there’s an urgent need for staff and the role involves direct contact with vulnerable adults, the employer can request an Adults’ First Check. This is a quicker, interim check of the Adults’ Barred List, and if it’s clear, the individual can start work under strict supervision while awaiting the full Enhanced DBS check results.
DBS checks for care home employees
Individuals planning to work in a care home (either for vulnerable adults or the elderly) will require an Enhanced DBS and Adults’ Barred List check.
DBS checks for contractors & volunteers
In a care home setting in the UK, both contractors and volunteers typically require an Enhanced DBS check with a check of the Adults' Barred List.
DBS checks for home carers
Enhanced DBS and Adults' Barred List checks are a mandatory requirement for all carers working within domestic settings.
What does an Enhanced DBS check for care workers show?
Roles within a care environment generally require an Enhanced DBS check. This includes:
- Care Workers and Assistants
- Healthcare Professionals
- Managers and Supervisors
- Activity Coordinators
- Cleaning and Kitchen Staff
- Drivers and Transport Staff
- Volunteers
Enhanced checks reveal: Spent and Unspent Convictions, Cautions, Reprimands, Final Warnings, Any other police information deemed relevant.
Adults’ Barred List
Any individual engaging in ‘regulated activities’, or whose role presents the potential for unsupervised contact with vulnerable adults, must undergo a check against the Adults’ Barred List. This applies to all frontline staff, administrative and support roles, volunteers and contractors.
The check reveals anyone who is prohibited from working with vulnerable adults, and it is considered a criminal offence to employ someone listed as ‘barred’ within an adult care setting.
Our Enhanced DBS check process for care workers
Our process is designed to be easy, accessible, and personalised. As an umbrella body of the DBS, we offer a reliable and efficient service that can be customised to meet the unique needs of your adult care facility.
Our accredited DBS team goes above and beyond to ensure your requirements are met. We provide expert guidance at every step to guarantee a smooth DBS check process, ensuring the safety and protection of those in your care.
Register easily online for free
You can set up an account in a matter of minutes, submit applications on our user-friendly portal, and manage checks on your dashboard.
Apply for checks
Our expert team thoroughly reviews each application, verifying all information for accuracy and validity to maximise efficiency throughout the DBS check process.
Receive your results
You will be notified when the results are ready. Our fast turnaround provides confirmation of your checks and peace of mind.
What our clients say
Enhanced DBS checks for adult social care pricing
Our competitive pricing for Enhanced DBS checks ensures care facilities can maintain the highest safety and compliance standards without straining budgets. We offer transparent, cost-effective rates with no hidden fees, enabling you to efficiently conduct all necessary checks for your staff.
| No of Checks | Cost ex VAT | Cost inc VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Rate | £52.17 | £55.00 |
| 51 – 300 | £47.17 | £49.00 |
| 301 – 500 | £46.96 | £48.75 |
| 501 – 750 | £46.13 | £47.75 |
| 751 – 1000 | £44.04 | £45.25 |
| 1001+ | £43.00 | £44.00 |
Choosing Checks Direct for care sector DBS checks
Our expertise ensures adult care providers meet their regulatory obligations while maintaining a safe and secure environment for those in your care. We’re proud to have assisted nearly 5,000 satisfied clients, processing more than 100,000 DBS and other vetting checks annually.
Our online services help you save time, money, and resources while offering a range of additional benefits tailored to the unique needs of the adult care sector:
Safety and risk mitigation
Implement thorough vetting practices to protect your care facility, residents, and staff from potential risks or misconduct.
Trust and reputation
Build trust with residents, families, and regulatory bodies by maintaining transparent hiring processes that meet the highest recruitment standards.
Quality assurance
Gain peace of mind knowing that background checks are conducted professionally and securely, adhering to industry standards and best practices.
Operation continuity
Meet your staffing needs quickly with our fast-track vetting system, ensuring uninterrupted care delivery and minimal disruption to your operations.
Workforce optimisation
Improve staff retention by hiring the right caregiver for each role, reducing turnover and associated costs while maintaining high-quality care.
Regulatory compliance
Receive expert guidance to perform the appropriate checks and ensure compliance with CQC and other regulatory requirements in the care sector.
FAQs
DBS checks are accurate up to the point of issue and therefore care institutions should request new checks periodically (typically every 1-3 years) or subscribe to the DBS Update Service. This allows employers to see if there have been any changes to a certificate.
People looking to work in the care sector are typically subject to Enhanced DBS and Adults’ Barred Lists checks as they will be working closely with vulnerable individuals.
DBS checks play an essential role in ensuring the safety and protection of vulnerable adults by identifying any past criminal offences or inappropriate behaviour that could potentially endanger the individuals they are entrusted to support.
While not strictly illegal, working in the care sector without a DBS check is highly inadvisable. It’s the responsibility of both the employer and the employee to ensure the appropriate checks are in place to safeguard vulnerable individuals.
No, a DBS check is more general, while a barred list check is a specific component of an Enhanced DBS check. Standard and Basic DBS checks do not include barred list checks. A barred list check is required for people who work closely with children or vulnerable adults.
Yes, in most cases, care role volunteers in the UK do need DBS checks. The specific type of check required (Enhanced or Standard) depends on the nature of their role and the level of contact they have with vulnerable adults. Some voluntary roles may be exempt from DBS checks if they involve only incidental contact with vulnerable adults or are supervised at all times by someone who has been properly checked.
The DBS cannot access criminal records held overseas, but it is possible to undertake a legally compliant check through Checks Direct. We provide a professional overseas checking service to help you vet and verify new employees that have lived outside of the United Kingdom. By liaising with relevant embassies on your behalf to reveal criminal records held in other countries, we ensure your decision making is informed and reputable.
A DBS check and a CRB check are the same. In 2012 the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) merged under the Protection of Freedoms Act to form ‘The Disclosure and Barring Service’.
All care workers, regardless of where they work, are required to have Enhanced DBS and Adults’ Barred List checks as they work with vulnerable individuals.
You can potentially hire workers in the care sector with a criminal record, but it is highly dependent on the nature of the conviction, the specific role they’re applying for, and your provider policies.
There may be circumstances, such as urgent staffing requirements, in which employees are permitted to start working before their DBS check has been returned. Employers can request an Adult First Check, which checks if applicants are listed on the Adults’ Barred List. This is a far quicker process than a full Enhanced DBS with barred list check, and allows workers to begin their duties on condition that they do not have unsupervised access to vulnerable people at any point.
Yes, Checks Direct offer quick and easy DBS check applications using our online portal. Simply register for an account and apply for the checks your business requires.
Apply for DBS Checks for care workers online today
Keep your organisation and people safe with our independent and verified checks.
Related Services
Additional care sector services include:
