DBS Checks for Nurses and Health Professionals in Private Practice
Treating patients privately as a self-employed professional? You can now apply for your own Enhanced DBS check, including the barred lists, without going through a hospital, clinic or agency. Once it arrives, share it with your patients and any venue you work from.
- Apply directly – you don’t need an employer or agency
- Eligibility confirmed by us before your check is submitted
- Fast digital ID using your passport and a smartphone
- Cover all your private work with one certificate and the Update Service
Who can apply through us?
From 21 January 2026, a registered umbrella body like us can process an Enhanced DBS check for you if you work for yourself, or if the person you work for employs you directly. Roles that typically qualify include:
Private nurses
Nurses and midwives giving care or treatment on a private basis.
Physios and OTs
Physiotherapists and occupational therapists seeing patients at home or in their own clinic.
Podiatrists and chiropodists
Home visits to housebound or older patients included.
Other registered professionals
For example paramedics, dietitians, and speech and language therapists.
Choosing the right check for your patients
The deciding factor is who you treat. We’ll confirm the details with you before your application goes to the DBS.
Enhanced check + Adults’ Barred List
For registered health professionals providing health care to adults:
- There’s no frequency test to meet
- Even a small amount of treatment counts
- Covers clinic appointments and home visits alike
Enhanced check + Children’s Barred List
If you also see children, the Children’s Barred List can be included:
- Mention it on your application
- We’ll confirm which lists are right for you
- The price stays the same
Registered with the HCPC or NMC? Regulators don’t carry out DBS checks. Clinics, hospitals and agencies you work with may still do their own checks, but for your private practice you can apply through us.
How this works in practice
Private physiotherapist
Sees older patients in their own homes as they recover from hip surgery.
Mobile podiatrist
Travels around her area treating clients who can’t leave home.
Children’s speech therapist
Visits young children at home for their therapy sessions.
Applying in four simple steps
Fill in the online form
Type SELF-EMPLOYED as the organisation name, or PERSONAL EMPLOYEE if you’re employed directly by a patient.
Confirm your ID online
Have a biometric passport to hand, plus a phone that supports contactless payments.
We review and submit
We check everything over and confirm the correct level before sending it to the DBS.
Your certificate arrives
The DBS sends it to you by post. Register with the Update Service so it stays current.
Tip: make one certificate go further
If you work across several clinics or see patients privately in different places, the DBS Update Service lets each of them see online, once you give consent, whether your certificate is current – so you don’t need a new check every time.
Arranging private care for yourself or family?
A patient or relative can’t apply for a DBS check for the professional – they need to apply for it themselves. You’re welcome to ask to see the original certificate, and if they’ve signed up to the DBS Update Service you can confirm it’s still current online at no cost.
Questions from health professionals
I work in the NHS and also privately. Do I need a separate check?
Your NHS employer handles checks for your NHS role. For the private work you do as a self-employed professional, you can apply with us for your own check.
Does it matter if I’m not registered with a regulator?
Most health professionals are registered with a regulator such as the HCPC or NMC. If you aren’t, tell us about your work and we’ll see whether you qualify.
I treat both adults and children. What should I apply for?
Let us know on your application. We’ll confirm the right lists, and adding the Children’s Barred List doesn’t change the price.
Do I need a fresh DBS check for each patient?
Not necessarily. Join the DBS Update Service and each client can look it up online, with your consent, to confirm it remains current.
Do self-employed checks cost more?
No. It costs exactly what an employer-arranged Enhanced check would.
What if I turn out not to be eligible?
You’ll hear from us before your application goes anywhere, and a Basic DBS check is still an option.
Where can I get more help?
Read our guide to choosing a check and general FAQs, or email support@dbs-online.org.uk. Already applied? Track your application.
Other self-employed roles
Guidance for other people who work for themselves.
Get your health professional DBS check started
Applying online takes just a few minutes, and we confirm your eligibility first so you only pay for the check you actually need.