DBS Checks For Childminders:
Everything You Need
To Know
Everything You Need To Know
If you’re looking into becoming a childminder, you’ve probably already come across DBS checks.
Most people know they’ll need one, but that’s usually where the certainty ends.
Do you need an Enhanced DBS check? What about your partner?
What happens if your son turns 16 halfway through the process?
Can you use the DBS certificate you already have one from working in a school or nursery?
These are the sorts of questions we get asked all the time.
The trouble is, a lot of the information online assumes you already understand how the registration process works. If you’ve never become a childminder before, that’s not much help.
So we’ve put this guide together to explain things in plain English.
We’ll cover what type of DBS checks you need, who else in your household may need checks, how much it costs and some of the mistakes that regularly catch people out.
More importantly, we’ll explain it the same way we’d explain it if you picked up the phone and asked us.
Because becoming a childminder involves enough paperwork already without having to decipher government guidance at the same time!
Who Needs A DBS Check?
Anyone aged 16 or over who lives in the home where childminding takes place will need to be considered for a DBS check as part of the registration process. This includes the childminder, their partner, any older children living at home, and lodgers.
Most prospective childminders know they’ll need a DBS check themselves. That’s usually not the issue. The confusion tends to be around who else needs one.
Questions like:
“Does my husband need one too?”
“What about my daughter?”
“We’ve got a lodger. Does that matter?”
The answer depends on who lives in the home and what role they play in the childcare setting.
As a starting point, here’s a simple overview.
| Person | DBS Required |
|---|---|
| Childminder | Yes |
| Partner living in the home | Yes |
| Household members aged 16 and over | Yes |
| Childminder assistants | Yes |
| Lodgers aged 16 and over | Yes |
| Visitors and non-residents | No |
The Childminder
If you’re registering as a childminder, you’ll need an Enhanced DBS check as part of the registration process.
That’s the straightforward bit.
Childminder Assistants
If somebody is going to help you care for children, they’ll usually need checks too.
We’ve spoken to people who spend weeks getting everything organised, only to realise at the last minute that their assistant also needs to go through the process.
If you know you’ll be using an assistant, it’s worth sorting this out early.
Partners Living In The Home
A partner living in the home where childcare takes place may need to be considered as part of the suitability checks, even if they have no involvement in the childminding business itself.
This is probably the question we get asked most often.
A lot of people assume that because their partner isn’t involved in the business, they won’t need to be considered.
The reality is that children are being cared for in a home where that person lives.
That’s why checks may be required as part of the suitability process.
Children Aged 16 And Over
Yes – when someone living in the home turns 16, they will need a DBS check as part of your childminding registration requirements.
This catches people out all the time. When you first register, your son or daughter might be 14 or 15 and nothing more needs to be done. A year or two later they turn 16 and suddenly the conversation changes.
We’ve had plenty of calls from childminders who’ve only realised this when a birthday is a few weeks away. If you’ve got somebody in the household approaching 16, it’s worth checking what requirements apply before it becomes a last-minute panic.
Lodgers And Other Adults Living In The Home
A lodger or other adult living in the home where childcare takes place may need to be considered as part of the registration checks, regardless of whether they pay rent.
Lodgers create a lot of questions because every situation is slightly different.
The important thing isn’t whether somebody pays rent.
The important thing is that they’re living in the environment where childcare takes place.
If you’re thinking about taking in a lodger, or already have one, make sure you understand what that means for your registration.
What If You're Not Sure?
That’s completely normal.
Most childminders only go through registration once, so nobody expects you to know all of this off the top of your head.
If you’re unsure whether somebody connected to your household needs a DBS check, ask.
It’s much easier to deal with a question early than discover halfway through registration that something has been missed.
Which DBS Checks Do Childminders Need?
If you’re becoming a childminder, you’ll need an Enhanced DBS check. This is the highest level of DBS check available and it’s the one used for roles involving regular contact with children.
Where people often get confused is when they already have a DBS certificate from another job.
A conversation we have all the time goes something like this:
“I’ve already got a DBS from working in a school. Can I use that one?”
Or:
“I’ve worked in a nursery for years and had checks done there.”
It’s a fair question.
Unfortunately, the answer isn’t always as straightforward as people hope.
A DBS certificate isn’t just about what’s on the certificate itself. The role, workforce and reason the check was carried out all matter as well.
That’s why having a DBS from teaching, nursery work, healthcare or another profession doesn’t automatically mean it can be used for childminding.
Sometimes it may help.
Sometimes a new application will still be needed.
That’s why we always tell people not to make assumptions based on an existing certificate – it can save a lot of frustration later on!
What You Need Before You Start Your DBS Application
Applying for your DBS check is straightforward, but having a few things in order before you start will make the whole process much smoother and avoid any stop-start frustration halfway through.
The things that trip people up most often aren’t the DBS check itself. It’s realising mid-application that their address history isn’t complete, or that they haven’t got the right ID documents to hand, or that they hadn’t budgeted for multiple household members needing checks at the same time.
Before you start, it’s worth making sure you’ve got:
- Your address history accurate and complete for the required period
- The right ID documents ready to verify your identity
- Thought about whether anyone else in the household needs a check, and that you’ve got the funds available if more than one application is needed at once
- Considered the DBS Update Service, which is strongly recommended and needs to be joined within 30 days of your certificate being issued
Getting these things sorted before you begin means you’re far less likely to hit a wall partway through.The whole process tends to move much faster when the information is right first time.
How Much Does A Childminder DBS Check Cost?
A childminder DBS application typically costs £65, covering the Enhanced DBS check, identity verification, and processing. The optional DBS Update Service costs an additional £16 per year.
Money is usually one of the first things people ask about when they’re planning to become a childminder.
Not because a DBS check is particularly expensive, but because it tends to arrive at the same time as lots of other costs.
You’ve got training to think about. First aid, registration start-up costs, equipment, insurance and more!
Before you know it, the list starts getting longer than expected.
Childminder DBS applications cost £65.
That includes the Enhanced DBS application, identity verification and processing of the application.
We also ask that you join the DBS Update Service, which is currently £16 per year and paid separately.
Getting these things sorted before you begin means you’re far less likely to hit a wall partway through.The whole process tends to move much faster when the information is right first time.
Is It Worth Paying For The Update Service?
Yes! For the sake of a relatively small annual fee, it make sfuture checks much easier and gives organisations a way of checking that your DBS status hasn’t changed since the certificate was issued.
In fact, many early years settings won’t accept your DBS application without it.
The only thing we’d say is don’t leave it too late.
You only have 30 days from the date your DBS certificate is issued to join the service. Worth doing them both in one go to avoid any complications!
How Long Does A Childminder DBS Check Take?
Most childminder DBS checks take a few weeks to come back, though timescales can vary depending on factors such as address history and identity verification. There’s no way to speed up a submitted application.
This is one of those questions where everybody wants a precise answer but the truth is, it varies.
We’ve seen some DBS checks come back quite quickly whilst others take longer than expected, even when everything has been completed correctly.
For most childminders, the process takes a few weeks, but it’s always worth allowing extra time when you’re planning your registration.
Why Do Some DBS Checks Take Longer Than Others?
There isn’t always a single reason. Sometimes it’s down to address history, sometimes identity documents need checking or additional checks need to be carried out before the certificate can be issued.
Most delays aren’t caused by anything serious, it’s just part of the process.
Can I Speed Things Up?
Sadly, no.
Once your application has been submitted, there’s very little anybody can do to rush it through. What you can do is make sure everything is accurate from the start – double-check your address history, names, dates & documentation.
Don’t rush the application – taking your time at the beginning could save you weeks later on.
So When Should I Apply For My Childminder DBS?
You should apply for your DBS as soon as you start the childminder registration process.
Your DBS application should be one of the first things you do in the registration process. This is because of the time it can take, and how important it is (you literally can’t register without it).
Get the application out of the way early to give yourself the best chance of avoiding unwated delays.
Can I Use A DBS Certificate From A Previous Job?
An existing DBS certificate from a school, nursery, healthcare, or social care role doesn’t automatically transfer to childminding, because what matters is the workforce and purpose the original check was issued for, not just the level of check.
This may be one of the biggest misconceptions around childminder DBS checks.
A lot of people looking to become childminders already work with children in some way. Whether they’re teachers, teaching assistants, nursery practitioners or nannies. If that’s the case, you’ll already have a DBS certificate as part of those job requirements and might be thinking you don’t need to apply for a new one.
Howver, this isn’t always the case, make sure you check before you make any assumptions.
I Already Work In A School
An existing school DBS doesn’t automatically transfer across to childminding.
Yes, even though you’ve already had an Enhanced DBS check, and you work with children every day, you may still need a new DBS for childminding.
The reason is that childminding is a different role, done in a different environment. It’s not just about the level of check. The workforce, purpose and circumstances surrounding the application matter as well.
I Work In A Nursery. Do I Need a New DBS Too?
A DBS check from a nursery doesn’t automatically transfer to childminding either.
Sometimes people think nursery DBS’s are transferrable to childminding as both roles include working with early years children specifically.
But the same applies as for schools: different role, different environment may mean a separate DBS check is needed.
Does My DBS From Health & Social Care Count?
A previous DBS check in a caring role like Health & Social Care may be helpful. But it is likely you’ll need a separate DBS check to become a childminder.
Every situation needs looking at on its own merits. An enhanced DBS check for social care and an enhanced DBS check for childminding are two different things.
Ask, Don't Assume
People don’t usually get into trouble because they intentionally mislead us or Ofsted, they get into trouble because they make assumptions.
They assume a certificate can be reused, they assume they don’t need to ask that question, they assume somebody else will tell them if there’s a problem.
It’s a nasty surprise when you realise you made the wrong assumption, which costs you time and money!
Asking at the beginning is always better than discovering a preventable problem further down the line.
What Is The DBS Update Service?
The DBS Update Service is an optional subscription, currently £16 per year, that lets organisations check whether your DBS certificate is still current without you needing a new application each time. Childminders must join within 30 days of their certificate being issued.
Do Childminders Need It?
Technically, you can become a childminder without joining the Update Service. However, we strongly advise against it. The update service makes it so much easier for you and the organisations you’ll work with to check your DBS is still valid. In fact, many early years settings won’t accept a DBS certificate without it. For £16 a year, it’s a no-brainer!
Is There a Deadline For Joining The DBS Update Service?
Yes, you have 30 days from the date your DBS certificate is issued to join the update service.
Once that window has passed, the certificate can’t be added which means a new application if you want to subscribe.
What Happens If Something Appears On My DBS Check?
A disclosure on your DBS check does not automatically prevent you from becoming a childminder. Each case is considered individually, taking into account the nature of the information, when it occurred, and the wider circumstances.
What Sort Of Things Can Appear On An Enhanced DBS Check?
An Enhanced DBS check can contain a range of information, including:
- Convictions
- Cautions
- Reprimands and warnings
- Relevant information held by local police forces
- Children’s barred list checks where appropriate
Not everything will necessarily appear and not everything that appears will be treated in the same way. That’s why it’s impossible to give a blanket answer without understanding the individual circumstances.
Will It Stop Me From Becoming A Childminder?
Not necessarily. Some offences will be an automatic bar to registration, particularly anything involving children or serious harm. Others are assessed on a case by case basis, and the outcome will depend on a range of factors including how long ago something happened, whether it’s relevant to working with children, and what has changed since.
What Counts As A Disclosure?
A disclosure is anything that appears on your DBS certificate that wasn’t previously declared. This might be a caution, a warning, a reprimand, or a conviction. Not all of these will automatically affect your application, but all of them will be considered as part of the registration process.
Should I Tell You About Something I'm Worried About in Advance?
Yes, be upfront from the start. Trying to conceal something that will appear on a DBS check creates far more problems than the disclosure itself in most cases. If you’re unsure how something on your record might affect your application, speak to us before you apply and we can talk it through with you.
What If A Household Member Has Something On Their DBS Check?
Just as with the registered childminder, information isn’t assessed in isolation.
The circumstances are considered and decisions are made based on the individual situation.
What If Something Happens After I'm Registered?
If something changes after you’ve become a childminder, it’s important to deal with it properly by reporting it to your agency or Ofsted so we can help you navigate the best course of action.
As with everything DBS-related, the circumstances will be assessed based on how their affect your suitability to care for children safely, and a decision will be made on how to proceed.
