Which check care roles need
Most hands-on care roles with adults need an enhanced DBS check with the adults' barred list. Roles with children need the children's barred list. Some roles need both.
The level depends on the role, not the person. If you move from a children's service to an adults' service, or the other way, expect a new check.
Can a new employer use my current certificate?
A DBS certificate does not expire, but it only shows what was known on the day it was issued. Each employer decides whether to accept an existing certificate or ask for a new one.
Your best chance of avoiding a new check is the Update Service. Employers can see the full list of checks they must run in our guide to pre-employment checks for care staff.
How the Update Service works
- You join online using your certificate number. You must join within 30 days of the certificate being issued.
- From 5 October 2026 it costs £15 a year, down from £16. It is free for volunteers.
- With your consent, an employer can run a free online status check. It tells them whether anything has changed since the certificate was issued.
- The certificate still has to be the right level and workforce for the new role.
If you are about to get a new certificate, join as soon as it arrives. It saves time on every move after this one.
DBS check fees from October 2026
From 5 October 2026 the fees fell:
| Check | Before 5 October 2026 | From 5 October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | £21.50 | £20.00 |
| Standard | £21.50 | £20.00 |
| Enhanced | £49.50 | £41.00 |
| Update Service (per year) | £16.00 | £15.00 |
Many care employers pay for the check. Ask at offer stage so there are no surprises.
If you have a caution or conviction
Some older and minor cautions and convictions are filtered and will not appear on a standard or enhanced certificate. The filtering rules are published on GOV.UK.
If something will show, tell the employer before the certificate arrives. A conviction does not automatically stop you working in care. Employers have to consider whether it is relevant to the role, and being open about it early is usually better received than a surprise.
If your DBS check is taking a long time
Most checks come back without trouble, but some take longer, often because a police force is still reviewing local records. You can track an application online using the reference number from your application.
Tell your new employer as soon as you know there is a delay. They can plan your start date around it, and it avoids handing in your notice too early.
Starting before the certificate arrives
Occasionally an employer will let someone start before the full certificate is back. That needs a DBS Adult First check against the barred list and close supervision until the certificate arrives. It is the exception, not the norm, so do not plan your notice period around it.
Questions
How long is a DBS certificate valid for?
It has no expiry date. It shows information known on the day it was issued, and each employer decides whether to accept it or ask for a new one.
Can I use my NHS DBS for a care home job?
Possibly, if it is the same level and workforce and you are on the Update Service. The new employer decides.
I missed the 30-day window for the Update Service. What now?
You cannot add that certificate. Join within 30 days of your next one, and your future moves will be quicker.
Is the process different in Scotland or Northern Ireland?
Yes. Scotland uses the PVG scheme through Disclosure Scotland. Northern Ireland uses AccessNI. This guide covers England and Wales.
Sources
This guide covers England unless it says otherwise. It is general information, not legal advice. We review it when the rules change and update the date above.