DBS checks for counsellors: do you need one, and how to get it

Whether you need a DBS check as a counsellor depends on who you work with and for whom, and the answer isn’t automatically yes. It’s worth understanding, though, because a check can be a condition of certain work, and until recently getting one as a self-employed person was genuinely difficult. That last part has changed.

What is a DBS check?

A DBS check, from the Disclosure and Barring Service, tells an organisation about your criminal record so they can judge your suitability for a role, particularly one involving children or vulnerable adults. There are three levels: basic, which anyone can request and shows unspent convictions; standard; and enhanced, which is the most detailed and is reserved for eligible roles working closely with children or vulnerable groups.

Do counsellors need a DBS check?

For a counsellor seeing adults privately, a DBS check isn’t automatically required. Where it becomes relevant is when your work brings you into contact with children or vulnerable adults, or when an organisation you want to work with requires it. Many EAPs, agencies, charities and NHS-adjacent contracts ask for an enhanced check as a condition of joining their panels, and if you work with young people it’s expected. So the honest answer is: not always, but often enough that it’s worth sorting if you’re heading in those directions.

Can self-employed counsellors get an enhanced DBS check?

Yes, since 21 January 2026. There used to be a catch: standard and enhanced checks had to be requested by an organisation, not by the individual, which left self-employed practitioners unable to get one for themselves. That barrier has now eased, and self-employed workers and personal employees can apply for enhanced checks through an umbrella body, provided the role is eligible. BACP had flagged the change coming in December 2025. It makes it far more practical to hold a current enhanced check and to be attractive to the providers who ask for one.

How do you keep a DBS check current?

Once you have a check, the DBS Update Service lets you keep it up to date and lets organisations check its status online, so you don’t have to start from scratch each time. For a counsellor who expects to work with several organisations, or to renew a check periodically, it’s worth being on it. It saves time and makes you easier to take on.

The practical takeaway

Work out whether your intended work needs a check: if you’ll see children or vulnerable adults, or want EAP and agency work, plan for an enhanced check and the Update Service. If you’re only ever seeing private adult clients, you may not need one, but knowing where you stand is part of setting your foundations properly.

This is general guidance to help you get set up, not legal advice. Eligibility rules can change, so check gov.uk and any organisation’s own requirements before you apply.