The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) has confirmed that the government fee for a Basic or Standard DBS check will reduce from £21.50 to £20.00, while the fee for an Enhanced DBS check will fall from £49.50 to £41.00. That means a saving of £8.50 on every Enhanced DBS check – a reduction of more … Read more
From 1 September 2026, the supervision exemption for regulated activity with children is being removed. Before the change, someone who regularly teaches, trains, instructs, cares for or supervises children may not be considered to be carrying out regulated activity if they are sufficiently supervised by another person. From 1 September 2026, that supervision will no … Read more
If you need a fast DBS check online, using a fully digital application process is usually the quickest option. Online DBS checks remove the need for paper forms, reduce errors, and allow applicants to complete their checks from anywhere. At Employment Tools, applications submitted before 4pm are processed the same day at no extra cost, … Read more
Can I Apply for an Enhanced DBS Check for Myself? When it comes to Enhanced DBS checks, we get lots of people asking: “Can I apply for an Enhanced DBS Check for myself?” The answer is yes – you can apply for an Enhanced DBS check for yourself. The DBS’s recent rule changes in January … Read more
DBS Barred List Checks If you or your organisation works with, or around under-18s or Vulnerable Adults, then your staff and/or volunteers must be DBS-checked, with a Barred List check involved in most cases. This is a legal requirement. In this guide, we’ll go over DBS Barred List checks, who needs them, why a Barred … Read more
An Enhanced DBS check cost is £49.50 for the government fee. This fee is the same whether or not a barred list check is included. When an Enhanced DBS check is processed through an umbrella body, an administration fee is added, meaning the total cost is usually between £60 and £80, depending on the provider. … Read more
The quickest DBS is usually a Basic DBS check, which can often be returned within hours or up to 24 hours when applied for online with accurate details and digital ID verification. Basic DBS checks only show unspent convictions and are processed centrally, which makes them the fastest option. Standard DBS checks typically take 24 … Read more
When applying for a DBS check, one of the most important steps is confirming the applicant’s identity. Getting the ID for DBS check wrong is one of the most common reasons for delays in getting the application processed, as it can be a little complicated. In this guide, we explain exactly what ID for DBS … Read more
On 28 August 2025, the BBC reported a serious DBS data breach involving Access Personal Checking Services (APCS). The breach exposed highly sensitive personal data submitted as part of criminal record checks – including passports, driving licences, and utility bills – across a wide range of industries. To be absolutely clear – this breach did … Read more
In the government’s latest report on illegal working penalties, 321 UK employers were fined between as of 29/08/25, racking up over £5 million in civil penalties. The report, published by the Home Office, names every business penalised for employing individuals who did not have the right to work in the UK. The message is clear: … Read more