Get Your Own Enhanced DBS Check as a Nanny or Childminder
Caring for children on behalf of families, with no agency or employer arranging your check? You can now apply for an Enhanced DBS check, Children’s Barred List included, in your own name. Apply online with us and show the same certificate to each family you work for.
- You don’t need an agency or employer to apply
- We confirm you’re eligible before anything goes to the DBS
- Prove your identity digitally using your phone and passport – a biometric passport is essential
- Join the Update Service and use one certificate with every family
Which childcare roles can apply?
From 21 January 2026, people who are self-employed – or employed directly by a family – have been able to apply for their own Enhanced DBS check through a registered umbrella body such as us, with nobody else needing to apply for them. These roles usually qualify:
Nannies
Full-time, part-time, live-in or nanny-share – paid by the family you work for.
Childminders
Caring for other people’s children in your own home, in return for payment.
Maternity nurses & night nannies
Looking after newborns and young children, overnight work included.
Babysitters
Paid babysitting, whether for a single family or for several.
Will my check include the Children’s Barred List?
That depends on how often you care for children. You don’t need to decide on your own – we confirm the right level with you before your application reaches the DBS.
Enhanced check with Children’s Barred List
This is the level for you if your childcare is regular – meaning any of the following:
- Weekly or more often
- On 4 or more days within any 30-day period
- Overnight, between 2am and 6am
Job title to pick on the form: Nanny or Childminder
Enhanced check without the barred list
For looking after children only once in a while – say, babysitting a few times a year:
- An Enhanced check is still open to you
- It simply won’t include the barred list
- The price is the same whichever level you need
Job title to pick on the form: Babysitter
Which check would these carers need?
Three everyday childcare situations – each of them is regular work, so each needs the barred list.
Part-time nanny
Cares for two children on three days each week, all for the same family.
Night nanny
Looks after a newborn two nights a week so the parents can get some sleep.
Regular babysitter
Sits for a number of local families on most weekends.
Registering with Ofsted?
Planning to register with Ofsted as a childminder, or to join Ofsted’s Childcare Register as a nanny? Read Ofsted’s guidance before you apply anywhere – Ofsted may want your DBS check to go through its own process.
Not registering with Ofsted? Then you can apply through us.
What to have ready
Have these to hand before you begin and the form should only take a few minutes:
- A biometric passport – you can’t complete the digital ID check without one
- A smartphone that can make contactless payments
- The organisation name to enter: SELF-EMPLOYED, or PERSONAL EMPLOYEE if a family is your direct employer
- The right job title: Nanny, Childminder or Babysitter – we double-check the level for you
Applying in four simple steps
The whole process is online, and we keep track of your application at every stage.
Fill in the online form
Type SELF-EMPLOYED in the organisation name box – or PERSONAL EMPLOYEE when a family employs you directly.
Confirm your ID online
Have your biometric passport ready, along with a phone able to make contactless payments.
We review and submit
We look over your answers and agree the correct level of check before passing it to the DBS.
Your certificate arrives
The DBS posts the certificate to you. Signing up to the Update Service keeps it current.
Parents: taking on a nanny or childminder?
A parent can’t apply for a DBS check for their nanny or childminder – carers have to apply for their own. When you’re choosing someone:
- Ask to see their original certificate
- Make sure it’s an Enhanced check that includes the Children’s Barred List
- If they’ve joined the DBS Update Service, confirm online – at no cost – that it’s still current
Nanny and childminder DBS questions answered
Will every new family need a fresh DBS check?
Not necessarily. Once you’ve joined the DBS Update Service, each family can – with your consent – confirm online that your certificate is still current.
A nanny agency places me with families. Can it arrange my check?
Yes. If you work through an agency or organisation, it can still apply for you, following its own policies.
Is it more expensive to apply as self-employed?
No – you pay exactly what you would for an Enhanced check organised by an employer.
Can the parents I work for apply on my behalf?
No. Families can’t apply for you. You make the application yourself and then show them your certificate.
I only babysit now and then. Can I still apply?
Yes. You may qualify for an Enhanced check without the barred list, and we’ll confirm this with you before submitting.
Does overnight work count as regular?
Yes. Caring for children overnight, between 2am and 6am, counts as regular work – so night nannies and maternity nurses normally need the Children’s Barred List included.
What do I put as the organisation name?
Enter SELF-EMPLOYED. If a family employs you directly, enter PERSONAL EMPLOYEE instead.
What happens if I turn out not to be eligible?
We’ll let you know before anything is sent off, and you can apply for a Basic DBS check instead.
Still unsure? Read our guide to choosing a DBS check or email support@dbs-online.org.uk.
Other self-employed roles we check
Working with children in a different way? We help lots of self-employed people get their own check. See every role on our self-employed hub.
Tutors & private teachers
Private, online, music, SEN and language tutors teaching children.
Read more →Holiday club & activity leaders
Holiday clubs, forest schools and after-school activities.
Read more →Sports coaches & instructors
Freelance coaches, swimming teachers and activity instructors.
Read more →Ready to apply for your childcare DBS check?
It only takes a few minutes online, and we confirm your eligibility before submitting – so you only ever pay for the check you actually need.