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DBS Checks for Care Home Staff — A Manager's Guide

Updated May 2026 — Covers Disclosure and Barring Service requirements for regulated activity

Every member of staff in a care home who works with adults in a regulated activity role is generally expected to hold an enhanced DBS check with a barred list check before they begin unsupervised work. There is no legally mandated renewal interval — but CQC and best practice guidance treat checks older than three years with increasing scepticism, and the DBS update service provides a practical solution.

What type of DBS check is required in care?

For staff working in regulated activity with adults — which covers the majority of care home roles — the correct check is an enhanced DBS check with adults' barred list. This:

• Searches the Police National Computer for criminal records
• Includes local police intelligence considered relevant to the role
• Checks the DBS adults' barred list — individuals on this list are legally prohibited from working in regulated activity with adults

A standard or basic DBS check is not sufficient for regulated care roles. The level of check must match the regulated activity being carried out.

The DBS update service

The DBS update service allows individuals to keep their DBS certificate current by registering it. Employers can then carry out a free online status check to see whether the certificate is still up to date — avoiding the cost and time of a full application for each employment change.

Key points for employers:

• The individual must have registered their certificate with the update service within 30 days of it being issued — they cannot register an older certificate
• A status check confirms whether any new information has been added since the certificate was issued; if the status is "no change", the certificate remains valid
• You still need to see the original certificate — the status check supplements but does not replace it
• Status checks are only valid if the certificate was issued at the same level and workforce as the role being applied for

When to carry out a new check

There is no statutory renewal period for DBS checks in adult social care, but the expectation in practice is:

• A fresh check (or update service verification of a current certificate) before starting in a new regulated role
• If using the update service, an annual status check is considered good practice
• A fresh check if the existing certificate is three or more years old and the individual is not on the update service
• An immediate referral to the DBS if information comes to light suggesting an existing employee may be a risk — do not wait for the certificate renewal

Handling disclosures

When a DBS certificate reveals criminal history, the employer must carry out an individual risk assessment to determine whether the information is relevant to the role. Not all convictions automatically disqualify a person from working in care. Factors include:

• The nature and seriousness of the offence
• How long ago it occurred
• Whether it is relevant to working with vulnerable adults
• The circumstances and any evidence of rehabilitation

A blanket policy of refusing employment to anyone with a criminal record is unlawful under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Document the risk assessment process and the decision reached.