Which DBS check do I need?
It depends on the role’s actual duties, not its job title. Below is a quick way to narrow down the level a role is likely eligible for, six worked examples, and why requesting the wrong level matters legally.
Job title alone never decides it
It is tempting to map a job title straight to a check level, but eligibility does not work that way. A “caretaker” at a school and a “caretaker” at an office block may be eligible for very different levels. What matters is what the person does, who they do it with, where, and how often.
What actually determines eligibility
- The actual role and duties — the tasks the person performs, not the label.
- The setting — some “specified places” (such as schools) carry eligibility because of the opportunity for contact.
- The workforce — child workforce, adult workforce, both, or other.
- Frequency — for regulated activity with children, how often the duties happen can be decisive (see below).
- Regulated-activity criteria — whether the duties meet the legal definition of regulated activity with children or adults.
- The legislation and exceptions — eligibility ultimately flows from the law (for example the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975).
A quick way to narrow it down
Start from what the person actually does, then confirm against the official guidance:
| If the role… | Points towards |
|---|---|
| has no contact with children or vulnerable adults and is not a profession listed in law | Basic (available to anyone) |
| is a specific profession or licensed role named in the Rehabilitation of Offenders exceptions | Standard may apply |
| is in a specified place (e.g. a school) with opportunity for contact, but is not regulated activity | Enhanced without a barred-list check |
| is regulated activity with children (teaching/caring/supervising often enough, or personal/health care even once) | Enhanced with the Children’s Barred List |
| is regulated activity with adults (personal care, health care, social work and similar) | Enhanced with the Adults’ Barred List |
| is unclear, overlapping, or you are not sure | Use the checker below, then confirm against the official guidance |
The four levels
Basic, Standard, Enhanced, and Enhanced with a barred-list check. What each shows and who can request it is set out in the comparison table on the DBS checks hub; regulated activity and the barred lists are covered in the regulated activity guide.
Six worked examples
These show how the duties — not the title — change the answer. They are illustrative, not determinations; confirm each against the official guidance.
| The role | Likely direction (confirm) |
|---|---|
| A volunteer who regularly hears children read at a school, meeting the frequency condition | Since 1 September 2026 this can be regulated activity even if supervised → Enhanced with the Children’s Barred List |
| A care worker providing personal care to adults (washing, dressing, toileting) | Regulated activity with adults, once is enough → Enhanced with the Adults’ Barred List |
| A nursery assistant working with under-fives on most days | Regulated activity with children → Enhanced with the Children’s Barred List (arranged via Ofsted for registered persons) |
| A taxi or private-hire driver applying for a licence | Licensing authorities are advised to require an Enhanced check with both barred lists, obtained through the licensing authority |
| A self-employed maths tutor teaching children one-to-one | May be eligible for Enhanced with the Children’s Barred List — since 21 January 2026 an eligible self-employed person can apply via an umbrella body |
| An office contractor with no contact with children or adults and no listed profession | No higher-level eligibility established → a Basic check is available (not “required”) |
Why you can’t just request the highest level
Over-requesting is not a safe default. Standard, Enhanced and Enhanced-with-barred-list checks are only lawful where the role is legally eligible, and it is the employer’s responsibility to establish that before applying. [GOV.UK] Knowingly requesting a higher level than the role allows — or a barred-list check for a role that is not regulated activity — is unlawful and can breach data-protection law. Requesting a level that is too low for a role that needs safeguarding checks is just as much of a problem, which is why getting the level right is the point of this page.
Not sure which level applies?
Our free DBS eligibility guidance checker walks you through the official criteria and points you to the guidance to confirm against. It is guidance, not a legal determination.
Open the DBS eligibility checker →FAQs
Does the job title decide the DBS level?
No. The eligible level depends on what the person actually does, where, and how often — not the job title. Two people with the same title can be eligible for different levels if their duties differ.
What if I am not sure?
Check the role against the official DBS eligibility guidance, and if it is still unclear, seek advice before requesting a check. Our checker points you to the right guidance but does not make a legal determination.
Related DBS guides
- DBS checks (hub)What a DBS check is, the Basic, Standard, Enhanced and Enhanced-with-barred-list levels, who is eligible, employer responsibilities and the 2026 regulated-activity change — a plain-English UK guide.
- Enhanced with barred list & regulated activityWhen a role needs an Enhanced DBS check with a children's or adults' barred-list check, what regulated activity means for each, and the 1 September 2026 change to regulated activity with children.
- DBS eligibility guidance checkerA free guided tool that helps UK employers work out which official DBS eligibility guidance to review for a role. Guidance only — it does not make a legal eligibility determination.
Official sources and further guidance
- Check someone's criminal record — types of check you can make — GOV.UK
- DBS check requests: guidance for employers, voluntary organisations and third parties — GOV.UK / Disclosure and Barring Service
- DBS eligibility guidance — GOV.UK / Disclosure and Barring Service
- Change to the definition of regulated activity with children from 1 September 2026 — GOV.UK / Disclosure and Barring Service
- Eligibility for an Enhanced with Adults' Barred List DBS check — GOV.UK / Disclosure and Barring Service
This guidance is maintained by the Complys team and reviewed against the primary DBS / GOV.UK sources listed above (last reviewed 24 September 2026). It is general information, not legal advice, and DBS rules can change — always confirm against the official sources.