What is Enhanced DBS?

An Enhanced DBS check is the most thorough level of criminal record check available in England and Wales. It includes everything in a Standard check — unspent and spent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and final warnings — plus any additional information that the local police force considers relevant to the role being applied for.

For children's activity businesses, the Enhanced DBS with a children's barred list check is mandatory for anyone in a "regulated activity" role. This includes teaching, training, instructing, caring for, or supervising children. If your coaches, teachers, or assistants have regular, unsupervised contact with under-18s, they must hold this level of check. Volunteers who supervise children also require Enhanced checks, though the check itself is free for volunteers.

Processing times typically range from two to eight weeks depending on local police response times, though roughly 80% of applications are completed within 14 days. You cannot allow someone to start unsupervised work with children until their Enhanced DBS has been returned clear. In the interim, you may allow supervised work only, and this arrangement must be risk-assessed and documented.