Do I need an enhanced DBS check to tutor?

A DBS check is performed by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), a government agency that assists employers with making safer recruitment decisions. An enhanced DBS check shows the full extent of an individual’s criminal record and includes everything from cautions and warnings, to spent and unspent convictions. It’s very much a standard process for anyone working with children or vulnerable adults.

A DBS check isn’t a legal requirement for tutors, so we don’t make it a requirement for our tutors either. However, it’s no surprise that most parents feel a lot more comfortable using a tutor who has one. For that reason, we give parents the option to filter their search results to only show tutors with an enhanced DBS check – so it definitely works in your favour to have one. If and when you do, we’ll add a badge to your public profile, which will be visible to parents, guardians, and students.

If your DBS check is an enhanced DBS check issued within the last 3 years, or you’re on the update service, you’re eligible for a DBS badge on your profile. Just upload a copy of your DBS when you’re submitting your application and we’ll do the rest. We’ll only be able to show a DBS badge if you have an enhanced DBS check, not a standard check. 

For more information on how to get a DBS, please see our FAQ here.