Which DBS Check Should I Apply For?
Sample job roles for each level of check — Basic, Standard, Enhanced, and Enhanced with Barring List.
These lists are a sample only — they are not exhaustive.
It is your responsibility to make sure you apply for the correct level of check for your circumstances. These lists are subject to change without notice, and some roles may fall under a different level of check than shown here — please check before you apply. If you’re ever unsure, contact us and we’ll help you work out the right level.
Basic
This is for people who want a check on themselves. It’s called a Basic DBS/CRB Check in England and Wales, and a Basic Disclosure in Scotland.
Examples of uses:
- Personal licence
- Alcohol licence
- Scrap metal dealers
- Certain visas – check with the country
- Most jobs that don’t involve working with children, vulnerable adults or the financial sector
Standard
Employers will need to apply for this Standard DBS Check on someone’s behalf. It’s most likely to be needed for certain roles where the person will not be working with children or vulnerable adults, such as:
- Accountants
- Lawyers
- SIA Licence
- Prison Employees
- Traffic Wardens
- Football Stewards
- Court Officer
- CILEx Approved Managers
- Bailiff
- Civil Enforcement Officers
- Delivery Driver – Healthcare
- Dispenser
- FCA Regulated Role
- Foster Care – Management
- Fostering Administration
- Healthcare Administrator
- Healthcare Reception
- Interpreter
- Locksmith
- NHS Contractor
- NHS/Care Contractor – STD
- Prison Contractor
- Registered Foreign Lawyer
- Registered Legal Executive
- Registered Solicitor
- Security Officer
- Veterinary Surgeon
Enhanced
This level of check is for specific high-responsibility roles that do not include working directly with children and/or vulnerable adults:
- High Security Psychiatric Hospital Staff
- Social Services Chief Executives
- Directors Of Adult Social Services
- Further Education Employees
- Magistrates
- Coroners
- Gambling Licence Holder
- Gambling Commission Employees
- Lottery Licence Holder
- School Contractors (e.g. builders/tradesmen)
- Employees Of The Crown
- Ancillaries Operative
- Charity Director
- Director – Residential Children’s Homes
- Employment Support Manager
- Employment Support Officer
- Foster Panel Member
- Healthcare Chaperone
- Life Coach
- Maintenance Worker
- Manager (Residential Children’s Home)
- Personal Trainer
- Supported Living Caseworker
Enhanced with Barring List
This level of check is for very specific roles which can include working with children and/or vulnerable adults. It is your responsibility as the employer to select the relevant barring list — children’s, adults’, or both — on the application form. These roles include:
(C) = children’s barring list • (VA) = vulnerable adults’ barring list • (C & VA) = both
- Admin & Clerical – Education
- Admin & Clerical – Social Care
- Adoptor
- After School Club Provider
- Artist In Residence
- Arts Therapist
- Assessor
- Assistant Headteacher
- Assistant Social Worker
- Attendance & Wellbeing Officer – Education
- Audiologist
- Bed Watch Officer
- Behaviour Support Education
- Camp Counsellor
- Care Assistant
- Care Home Worker (VA)
- Care Support Worker
- Care Worker
- Case Manager
- Chaperone
- Charitable Volunteer
- Charity Trustee (VA)
- Charity Worker (C & VA)
- Charity Worker (C)
- Charity Worker (VA)
- Childminder
- Chiropractor
- Clinical Lead (C)
- Clinical Lead (VA)
- Clinician
- Community Support Worker
- Consultant Surgeon
- Contact Lens Optician
- Counsellor
- Dental Nurse
- Dentist
- Deputy Head Teacher
- Deputy Head Teacher (C & VA)
- Doctor
- Early Year Worker
- Early Years Assistant
- Exam Invigilator
- Facilities Officer
- Foster Carer
- Foster Carer (VA 18+)
- Foster Carer Support
- Foster Carer Support – Homebased
- General Practitioner
- Head Teacher
- Head Teacher (C & VA)
- Health Visitor
- Healthcare Assistant
- Healthcare Assistant (VA)
- Home Based Support Worker (VA)
- Homecare Assistant (C & VA)
- Host Family (non-volunteer)
- Household Member (16+)
- Independent School
- Interpreter (Children’s Hospital)
- Kinship Carer
- Learning Support Worker (Education)
- Lecturer
- Lecturer (FE Education)
- Library Worker (C)
- Lifeguard (C & VA)
- Live In Carer (VA)
- Lunch Time Supervisor
- Mammographer
- Management (Specialist School)
- Medical Consultant (VA)
- Mental Health Nurse
- Nanny
- NHS/Care Contractor (VA)
- Nurse
- Nurse (VA)
- Nursery Nurse
- Nutrition Therapist
- Occupational Therapist
- Optician
- Optometrist
- Outreach Worker
- Paediatrician
- Paramedic
- Passenger Assistant
- Passenger Assistant (C & VA)
- Pastoral Care
- Pastoral Care (Home Based)
- Patient Transport
- Pharmacist
- Pharmacy Assistant
- Pharmacy Technician
- Phlebotomist
- Physiotherapist
- Podiatrist
- Principal
- Probation Officer
- Psychiatrist
- Psychologist
- Psychotherapist
- Radiographer
- Residential Care Manager (C & VA)
- Residential Child Care Worker
- Residential Deputy Manager (C)
- Safeguarding Officer
- School Administrator
- School Administrator (C & VA)
- School Caretaker
- School Catering
- School Cleaner
- School Cleaner (C & VA)
- School Contractor
- School Governor
- School Technician
- School Transport
- School Volunteer
- School/NHS Contractor
- Security Officer (Education)
- SEN Coordinator
- SEN Coordinator (C & VA)
- Service Lead – Public Health
- Shared Lives Carer (VA)
- Social Care Driver (VA)
- Social Care Manager (VA)
- Social Worker (C & VA)
- Social Worker (C)
- Social Worker (VA)
- Special Guardianship
- Specialist School Transport
- Speech/Language Therapist (C & VA)
- Sports Assistant
- Sports Coach (C & VA)
- Sports Coach (C)
- Student Healthcare Placement (C & VA)
- Student Placement (C)
- Student Placement (VA)
- Support Worker – Adults
- Support Worker – Transport
- Support Worker (C & VA)
- Support Worker (C)
- Support Worker (VA)
- Supported Living Advisor (C & VA)
- Surgeon
- Taxi Driver – Licence Only
- Taxi Driver – School & VA 18+
- Teacher
- Teacher – Specialist School (C & VA)
- Teaching Assistant
- Therapist
- Therapy Assistant
- Training Adviser – Education
- Tutor
- Workshop Facilitator (C & VA)
- Workshop Facilitator (C)
- Workshop Facilitator (VA)
- Workshop Tutor
- Youth Worker
- Youth Worker (C & VA)
- Youth Worker (C)
- Carers
- Teachers
- All School Staff
- Social Workers
- Health Care Professionals
- Childminders
- Lawyers In Certain Sectors
- Managers In Certain Sectors
- Adopting Parents
- Private Hire
- Taxi Drivers
As above — these lists are a sample only, not exhaustive, and subject to change without notice. It’s your responsibility to check you’re applying for the correct level before you apply.
About us
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DBS Support Ltd is a trading name of Llewelyn Enterprises Ltd t/a DBS Support Ltd, registered in England & Wales, No. 08862064.
Contact us
support@dbs-online.org.uk