Introduction – Can A Self Employed Person Get A DBS Check?
Self-employed people working in certain professions still need to have a DBS Check, but they are usually requested by an organisation.
So, can a self employed person get a DBS check? And if so, how do they request one?
Getting a DBS Check Whilst Being Self-Employed
There are three types of Criminal Record Check: Basic, Standard, and Enhanced.
However, as an individual (self-employed or not), applying for your own Standard or Enhanced DBS Check is not allowed, and has to be done through the Local Authority, or a governing body, depending on the sector you are working in and if you meet the criteria.
Can a Self Employed Person get a DBS Check?
A self employed person CAN get a DBS check, but you can only obtain a Basic DBS check as an individual, and this will show all unspent convictions. The eligibility for this check is not restricted by any job role and is available to everyone.
If you are a self-employed freelancer, for example, you could request a DBS check through one of the businesses you are providing freelance work for.
However, we generally recommend that people applying for a DBS check solely for their own use, use the government platform rather than an umbrella company such as Aaron’s Department.
Our admin fees cover the cost of streamlining the application process for employers and checking their employee’s applications for mistakes before they’re sent on to the government. So, while we appreciate your custom, in this unique case it probably won’t be worth the admin fee we charge. We have provided a link to the government website at the bottom of the page.
Why Those Who Are Self-Employed Cannot Request an Enhanced DBS Check
This is because to be able to obtain an Enhanced DBS check, you need to be directly working with vulnerable groups. The check must also be applied for by an organisation or employer, as you can’t perform your own risk assessment or ID check.
If you could do an ID check on yourself, then this would make it easy for individuals to use forged and illegal documents. This is set out in the Freedom of Information Act 2012.
Apply For Your Basic DBS Check
You can apply for your Basic DBS Checks via Aaron’s Department’s Online DBS system. Our online system uses automatic error checking and keeps you updated every step of the process, providing you with support from our team of DBS experts. Or alternatively, if you think you can do without this, we’ve also linked the government website.
Conclusion – Can A Self Employed Person get a DBS check?
So, can a self employed person get a DBS check? Yes, a self-employed person can get a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, also known as a criminal record check, if their work requires it. Many roles, particularly those involving work with children or vulnerable adults, may require individuals to undergo a DBS check, regardless of whether they are employed by an organisation or self-employed.
The only stumbling block can be, who you can obtain a DBS Check from. If you are self employed, you can obtain a Basic DBS check for yourself via the Government portal or otherwise, speak to the company you may do work for, they may be able to apply on your behalf to an umbrella company such as ourselves.
Further Reading – Can A Self Employed Person Get A DBS Check?
If you have found our article, Can A Self Employed Person Get A DBS Check useful, we have other helpful articles you may wish to read, below.
Getting DBS Checks For Non-UK Citizens