Levels of check
The DBS barred lists: children's, adults' or both
Describe the role: which barred list or lists the check can include.
Which level the role can get
Highest level the role can get
Enhanced with both barred lists
| Why | Regulated activity with children and adults |
| DBS fee | £41 |
| Free for volunteers | Yes |
Indicative, from the DBS eligibility guidance (England and Wales). The recruiting organisation decides.
DBS keeps two barred lists: the children's barred list and the adults' barred list. A person on a list is barred from regulated activity with that group, paid or unpaid, and under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 it is an offence for a barred person to seek or do that work, and for an employer to knowingly let them. A search of the lists is part of an enhanced check, never a separate product, and costs nothing extra: £41 for an enhanced check with or without barred lists since 5 October 2026. Only roles in regulated activity can have the lists searched: work with children that meets the period condition or involves care, and work with adults that involves health care, personal care, social work, help with money, help with their affairs, conveying them or managing those who do. Some roles reach both lists, such as taxi and private hire licences when the council asks. People are added after a referral from an employer, which has a legal duty to refer in some cases, or automatically after some convictions.
Fees and rules checked by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · How the figures are built
Which list for which role
| Workforce | List searched | Example roles in the finder | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child | Children's barred list | Teacher in a school, Teaching assistant, Cleaner, receptionist or caretaker in a school, Registered childminder | £41 |
| Adult | Adults' barred list | Care worker giving personal care to adults, Nurse, doctor or other regulated health professional, Healthcare assistant under a health professional, Social worker for adults | £41 |
| Other, both lists | Both barred lists | Taxi or private hire driver (licence), Pedicab licence in London | £41 |
The guidance for the "other" workforce names four cases that reach both lists without being regulated activity with one group: taxi and private hire licences when the licensing authority asks, hosts of related Ukrainian refugees under Homes for Ukraine, pedicab licences in London, and registered health professionals assessing children or vulnerable adults for the Department for Work and Pensions.
Regulated activity, in short
With children (guidance): teaching, training, instructing, caring for or supervising children, advising them, driving them or moderating an online service mainly for them, on more than three days in 30 days or overnight between 2am and 6am; any health or personal care; registering as a foster carer or childminder; managing people who do these things day to day. With adults (guidance): health care, personal care, social work, help with cash, bills or shopping because of age, illness or disability, help with their affairs, conveying them when they cannot travel alone, and the day-to-day management of all these. For adults, once is enough.
How people end up on a list
Most barring follows a referral. The GOV.UK referral guidance, updated on 11 September 2026, sets two conditions for the legal duty to refer: the employer, volunteer manager or personnel supplier removes the person from regulated activity, or would have done so had they not resigned, and it thinks the person engaged in relevant conduct, satisfied the harm test or received a caution or conviction for a relevant offence. Anyone may refer when they hold such concerns; parents and members of the public are asked to go to the police, social services or the employer instead. Some offences lead to automatic barring.
The finder on the home page shows the list for each role, and the eligibility page tests a role that is not in the finder.