For private nurses and health professionals
Enhanced DBS Checks for Self-Employed Nurses and Health Professionals
If you treat patients privately on a self-employed basis, you can now get your own Enhanced DBS check with the barred lists, without a hospital, clinic or agency. Apply online with us, then show your certificate to your patients and the places you work.
Health professional Enhanced check
With Adults' Barred List
The Children’s Barred List can be added if you also treat under-18s.
- No employer or agency needed
- We check your eligibility before we submit
- Digital ID check with your phone and passport
- One certificate for all your private work, with the Update Service
Who this page is for
Since 21 January 2026, people who are self-employed, or employed directly by the person they work for, can apply for their own Enhanced DBS check through a registered umbrella body. These roles usually qualify:
Private nurses
Nurses and midwives providing care or treatment privately.
Physiotherapists and occupational therapists
Treating patients in their homes or your own clinic.
Podiatrists and chiropodists
Including home visits to older or housebound patients.
Other registered health professionals
Such as dietitians, paramedics and speech and language therapists.
Which check do I need?
It depends on who you treat. We check this with you before anything is sent to the DBS.
Treating adults
Enhanced with Adults' Barred List
If you’re a registered health professional giving health care to adults:
- Any amount of treatment counts
- No "how often" test
- Includes home visits and clinic work
Treating children
Enhanced with Children's Barred List
If you treat under-18s, you can also be checked against the Children’s Barred List:
- Tell us when you apply
- We'll confirm the right lists
- Same price either way
Examples
A private physiotherapist
Visits older patients at home after hip operations.
Enhanced + Adults' Barred List
A mobile podiatrist
Treats housebound clients across her local area.
Enhanced + Adults' Barred List
A children's speech therapist
Works with young children in their own homes.
Enhanced + Children's Barred List
Registered with the NMC or HCPC?
Your regulator doesn’t issue DBS checks. Hospitals, clinics and agencies may still run their own checks when you work with them. For your private work, you can apply with us.
How to apply
STEP 1
Complete the online form
Enter SELF-EMPLOYED, or PERSONAL EMPLOYEE if a patient employs you directly, as the organisation name.
STEP 2
Verify your identity digitally
You’ll need a biometric passport and a phone that can make contactless payments.
STEP 3
We check and submit
We review your application and confirm the right level of check before sending it to the DBS.
STEP 4
Receive your certificate
The DBS posts your certificate to you. Join the Update Service to keep it current.
Patients and families: booking private care?
You can’t apply for a DBS check on their behalf. They must apply for their own. You can ask to see their original certificate, and if they’ve joined the DBS Update Service you can check online, for free, that it’s still up to date.
Common questions
Your NHS employer covers your NHS work. For your self-employed private work, you can apply for your own check with us.
Usually, yes. Health professionals are normally registered with a regulator such as the NMC or HCPC. If you’re not, tell us what you do and we’ll check whether you qualify.
Not necessarily. If you join the DBS Update Service, each client can check online, with your permission, that your certificate is still up to date.
No. It’s the same price as an Enhanced check arranged by an employer.
We’ll tell you before anything is submitted. You can apply for a Basic DBS check instead.
Ready to get your health professional DBS check?
Apply online in minutes. We’ll check your eligibility before submitting, so you only pay for the right check.