Deciding which DBS checks to carry out
Learn more about which DBS checks you'll need to apply for.
You can use the tools and guidance provided by the Disclosure and Barring Service, or get expert advice, to decide which level of check to request for different roles.
Other than the basic level, it’s an offence to knowingly carry out a criminal check if you’re not entitled to. You must take care when working out the appropriate level.
Regulated activity
Certain roles or activities within voluntary organisations are considered ‘regulated’.
Staff and volunteers involved in these activities are eligible for an ‘enhanced with barred list’ check by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). It’s best practice to apply for this check, because it’s illegal for an organisation to let someone take part in a regulated activity if they’re barred on the relevant list.
The definition of regulated activity differs for work with adults and work with children.
Regulated activities
Includes:
- providing healthcare (by, or under the direction or supervision of, a regulated healthcare professional)
- providing personal care (for example, feeding, toileting or washing)
- conveying (transporting) someone to or from healthcare, personal care or social care services because their age, illness or disability means they can’t take themselves
- providing social work (by a social worker, to a client or potential client)
- helping someone with the day-to-day running of their household if they can’t manage themselves because of their age, illness or disability (for example, managing cash, paying bills or doing shopping).
These activities only need to happen once to be considered regulated. The DBS has more information about regulated activity with adults in England.
When is work with children regulated activity?
Whether an activity with children is regulated activity can depend on what the person does, how often they do it and where the activity takes place.
Activities that only need to happen once
The following are regulated activity even if they only happen once:
- providing healthcare by, or under the direction or supervision of, a regulated healthcare professional
- providing personal care because of a child’s age, illness or disability.
Activities that depend on how often they happen
The following are regulated activity if they happen:
- on more than three days in a 30-day period, or
- once overnight between 2am and 6am, where there is an opportunity for face-to-face contact with children.
This includes:
- teaching, training or instructing children
- caring for or supervising children
- providing information, advice or guidance wholly or mainly to children about their physical, emotional or educational wellbeing.
From 1 September 2026, these activities can be regulated activity whether or not the person carrying them out is supervised.
Other activities that may be regulated activity
The following may be regulated activity if they happen on more than three days in a 30-day period and other relevant conditions are met:
- driving a vehicle specifically for children as part of a formal third-party arrangement
- moderating a web-based service which is wholly or mainly for children.
Working in certain establishments
Someone may also carry out regulated activity because they work in certain establishments, such as:
- schools and colleges
- nurseries
- other relevant childcare premises.
Specific conditions apply to work in these establishments. Find out more, including a list of included establishments (PDF).
Regular day-to-day management or supervision of someone carrying out regulated activity with children is also regulated activity.
Check the eligibility guidance
The rules around regulated activity are complex. Check the current DBS eligibility guidance to confirm whether a role is eligible for an enhanced DBS check with Children’s Barred List information.
Checklist
Use this checklist to help you manage DBS checks appropriately and consistently.
- Consider what’s proportionate. Once you’ve met your legal requirements, consider what’s appropriate for the level of risk.
- Get the highest eligible check. The Charity Commission expects you to get the highest level of check a role is eligible for. As a minimum, it encourages basic checks for anyone working with children or adults at risk.
- Assess the role, not the person. Whether someone is staff or a volunteer doesn’t affect the check. Base your decision on the risk assessment and what the role is eligible for.
- Decide how often to repeat checks. A DBS certificate is only accurate on the day it’s issued. Choose a timeframe that’s proportionate and manageable. Every three years is common.
- Keep a record of checks. Record which checks you’ve requested and when. Dispose of certificates once you’ve made your recruitment decision and resolved any disputes.
- Consider the Update Service. Standard and enhanced checks can be registered with the DBS Update Service, allowing you to check for changes to a certificate.
- Follow the DBS code of practice. Make sure any information disclosed through a check is used fairly.
- Get the applicant’s consent. You need consent to carry out a check or use the Update Service.
- Check overseas records where needed. DBS checks usually only cover UK offences. If someone has lived overseas, request their criminal record from the relevant country.
More information
- If you're ready to assess a role, use the DBS eligibility guidance page.
- The DBS find out tool is useful if you’d like to try a questionnaire approach to assessing a role.
- You must follow the DBS code of practice when requesting checks.
- If you work with children or adults, see the DBS checks guidance leaflets.
- If you need more advice or clarification, contact the DBS Regional Outreach service or email dbsregionaloutreach@dbs.gov.uk
Last reviewed: 25 August 2026
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