Do self-employed foster carers need a DBS check?

An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is a required safeguarding check for a self-employed foster carer. Being self-employed does not change this requirement or allow an applicant to use their work status as an exemption.

The check is part of the wider fostering assessment. It helps the fostering service identify relevant convictions, cautions, reprimands, warnings or other information that may affect an applicant’s suitability to care for children. The assessment considers the circumstances and relevance of any information rather than treating every disclosure as an automatic refusal.

Who may need a DBS check?

The main applicant will need an enhanced check. Other adults who live in the household will normally need appropriate checks too, including people who join the household during the assessment or after approval. The fostering service will also consider whether checks are needed for people who have regular contact with children in the foster home, particularly where contact could take place without direct supervision.

Each person’s circumstances are considered separately. Children in the household may also be subject to safeguarding enquiries appropriate to their age and situation, even where a DBS certificate is not required.

How the process works

• You provide the personal information and identity documents requested by the fostering service.
• The fostering service or its authorised organisation submits the enhanced DBS application. Applicants generally cannot apply directly for an enhanced check themselves.
• The DBS checks relevant police information and issues a certificate to the applicant.
• The fostering service reviews the certificate as part of the full assessment and records its safeguarding decision.

You should give complete and accurate information, including details of matters that may not appear on the certificate. Omitting information can create concerns about openness and honesty, so it is better to discuss any uncertainty with the assessing team before completing the form.

What if the check shows information?

A disclosure does not necessarily mean that you cannot foster. The fostering service may consider factors such as the offence, the time that has passed, the circumstances, any pattern of behaviour, and evidence of changed circumstances. Some information may be subject to disclosure rules, but you should still answer questions on the application accurately and follow the instructions provided.

Information from the DBS check is handled confidentially and used for safeguarding and assessment purposes. You may be asked to explain a disclosure or provide supporting information so that the assessment can consider the matter fairly and in context.

Other checks are also required

A DBS certificate is only one part of the safeguarding process. A fostering assessment can also include checks with relevant local authorities, references, identity and household checks, a medical assessment, and enquiries about previous addresses or time spent living abroad. These checks help build a fuller picture of the applicant and everyone who may be involved in a child’s care.

DBS certificates do not have a fixed expiry date. However, a fostering service must keep safeguarding information under review and may require a fresh check in line with its procedures or when circumstances change. Tell the fostering service about relevant changes, such as a new household member, a change of address or any police involvement, rather than assuming an existing certificate remains sufficient.

Self-employed applicants should therefore plan for the DBS process in the same way as any other fostering applicant. The fostering service can explain which checks apply to each person in the household, what documents are needed, how any disclosure will be considered, and whether the service or applicant is responsible for any associated administrative costs.