What changed on 21 January 2026
Until this year, Standard and Enhanced checks had to be requested by an employer or another organisation, so many independent professionals could not get the level of check their work called for.
A change in the law means self employed people and personal employees can now apply for an Enhanced check, or an Enhanced check with barred list checks, themselves. The application still has to go through a registered umbrella body, which checks that the role is eligible and confirms the applicant’s identity before submitting it.
Who can now apply for their own Enhanced check
The change covers two groups:
- Self employed people: anyone who works for themselves rather than for an employer.
- Personal employees: people employed directly by a private individual to provide a service to that individual or a member of their family, such as a carer employed through direct payments.
GOV.UK gives two examples of eligible applicants: a maths tutor who teaches children in their local area, who can apply for an Enhanced check with a children’s barred list check, and a personal carer supporting adults, who can apply for an Enhanced check with an adults’ barred list check.
Who still cannot: the eligibility test explained
Being self employed does not make a role eligible on its own. The work itself has to meet the same eligibility rules that apply to employees. In broad terms, that means the role must involve regulated activity with children or adults, or one of the other activities that the rules list as eligible for an Enhanced check.
GOV.UK’s own example is a self employed plumber who wanted Enhanced checks so he could work in people’s homes. His work did not meet the eligibility rules, so the umbrella body told him he was not eligible and suggested a Basic check instead. If an application goes to DBS for a role that is not eligible, it can be rejected, and the admin fee is still charged, so we always confirm eligibility with you first.
What it means for locum dental professionals
Treating patients counts as health care provided by, or under the direction of, a regulated health care professional. That places most clinical dental roles in regulated activity, so a locum dental nurse, hygienist, therapist or dentist is normally eligible for an Enhanced check with barred list checks.
Now you can apply yourself and show the certificate to every practice you work with. If you work through an agency, ask them first: many agencies, including Cavity Dental Staff, arrange checks for the locums they place. Our guide to DBS checks in dentistry covers the wider rules for dental teams, and our post on temporary, seasonal and part time roles explains how checks work for short bookings.
How to apply through Cavity DBS, step by step
- Check your role is eligible. If you are not sure, call us on 0118 4023793 before you apply.
- Complete our online DBS form. You will need your National Insurance number and a full address history for the last five years.
- Verify your identity. You can use our online verification, which uses facial recognition on your phone (£13.50 + VAT), or one of the other routes the DBS ID rules allow.
- Join the Update Service. You can subscribe while your application is in progress, using your application reference number.
- Track your application. Once your documents are verified, we send you a tracking number so you can follow your check at every stage.
- Receive your certificate. DBS posts it to your home address. Show the original to each practice you work with.
An Enhanced check with Cavity DBS costs £57.20 in total, made up of the £41.00 DBS fee and our £13.50 + VAT admin fee. Our guide to DBS check costs has the full breakdown.
Why the Update Service matters if you work across several practices
The Update Service costs £15 a year. Once your certificate is linked to it, any practice can check online, with your permission and free of charge, that no new information has been added since it was issued. That saves you applying for a new certificate each time a practice asks to see a recent one.
It only works when the new role is in the same workforce (adults, children or both) and needs the same level of check. You must join while your application is in progress or within 30 days of the date of issue on your certificate. Our DBS check transfer guide explains when a certificate can move with you.
What practices should ask to see
If you engage self employed clinicians, the responsibility for safe recruitment stays with the practice. For each locum, ask to see:
- the original certificate, not a photocopy or photo of it
- that the name and date of birth match their photo ID
- that the level of check and the barred lists covered suit the work they will do
- consent to run an Update Service status check, and the result of that check
Record the certificate number, date of issue and the date you checked it, so you can show your evidence at inspection.
Frequently asked questions
Can a practice or private client request the check on my behalf?
A private individual, such as a parent hiring a tutor, cannot obtain the check for you. You apply yourself. If you contract your services to an organisation, it may still choose to request a check for you under its own policies.
Do I need a new check for every practice I work at?
Not if you subscribe to the Update Service and the work is in the same workforce at the same level. Each practice can run a free status check instead, although any practice can still ask for a new certificate if its policy requires one.
Can I apply for a Basic check myself?
Yes, directly through GOV.UK. Cavity DBS processes Standard and Enhanced checks.
Apply for your own Enhanced DBS check
Working as a locum? Apply for your own Enhanced DBS check online with Cavity DBS, and when you are ready for your next booking, find locum work with Cavity Dental Staff.
