Secure Screening Services

05/09/2026

Can you get a DBS check if you’re self-employed?

Yes ... but the type of check you can get depends on the work you do.

Anyone aged 16 or over can apply for their own Basic DBS check.

And since January 2026, paid self-employed people and personal employees can also apply for an Enhanced DBS check — including a barred-list check where appropriate — through a DBS Umbrella Body, provided the role is eligible.

The important bit is that you can’t simply choose a higher level of check. Eligibility depends on the role and activities involved.

If you’re self-employed and aren’t sure which DBS route applies to you, speak to us.

03/09/2026

A DBS check and a Right to Work check do different jobs.

A Right to Work check confirms whether someone is allowed to work in the UK. Employers need to carry out the appropriate check before employing someone.

A DBS check looks at criminal record information. Basic checks can be used for any role, while Standard and Enhanced checks are only available where the role is eligible.

Some roles may need both, others won’t.

If you only hire occasionally, you don’t need to memorise all the terminology. Start with the role and what the person will actually be doing.

Not sure which checks you need? We can help.

01/09/2026

Work with children? There’s an important DBS change from today.

From 1 September 2026, the supervision exemption for regulated activity with children has been removed.

That means some paid staff and volunteers who teach, train, instruct, care for or supervise children may now be classed as carrying out regulated activity even when someone else supervises them - provided the activity happens often enough or overnight.

This can affect eligibility for an Enhanced DBS check with a Children’s Barred List check.

It doesn’t mean every supervised role automatically needs a different check. The activities and frequency still matter.

If you’re reviewing a role and aren’t sure what level of DBS check is appropriate, speak to us.

30/08/2026

Sometimes you just need to speak to someone.

Employment screening can be straightforward until a question comes up — perhaps you’re not sure which check is right, or a screening case becomes more complicated than expected.

Our platform helps keep checks organised and visible, but there’s also a UK-based team behind it when you need an answer from a real person.

You don’t need to become a screening expert just because you need to hire someone.

If you need help with employment screening, we're here to help!

https://www.securescreeningservices.com/contact-us/

28/08/2026

Not sure which employment checks you actually need?

You don’t have to work it all out before speaking to us!

The right screening depends on the role, the work involved and, in some cases, the sector you operate in. That might mean a DBS or Right to Work check, or something more involved.

Our team can help you understand the options without turning it into a complicated exercise.

So if you know you need to screen someone but aren’t sure where to start, just ask 👇

https://www.securescreeningservices.com/contact-us/

27/08/2026

Which DBS check do I need?

It’s one of the most common questions employers have and the answer depends on the role and what the person will actually be doing.

A Basic DBS check can be used for any role and shows unspent convictions and conditional cautions.

Standard and Enhanced checks are different: these are only available where the role meets specific eligibility requirements set out in law.

This generally depends on the duties involved, the level of responsibility, and the type of contact the role has with children or vulnerable adults.

A Standard check can show certain spent and unspent criminal record information, while an Enhanced check can also include relevant information held by local police.

Some roles may also be eligible for checks against the Children’s and/or Adults’ Barred Lists.

So the starting point shouldn't be, “which level should I choose?”

Instead, ask yourself, “what will this person actually be doing?”

If you’re unsure, speak to us: https://www.securescreeningservices.com/contact-us/

We can help you work out the appropriate route before you apply.

25/08/2026

Hiring one person or hundreds?

Getting the right checks in place shouldn’t be difficult.

Secure Screening Services helps UK businesses carry out the right pre-employment checks, with technology to keep everything organised, a managed service to reduce the admin, and UK-based support when you need it.

That might mean a DBS or Right to Work check, BPSS or BS7858 screening, or a wider combination of background checks depending on the role.

Whether you’re a sole trader making an occasional hire, a growing SME or an organisation recruiting at scale, we help make screening clearer and easier to manage — so you spend less time chasing checks and keeping track of progress.

Find out more at securescreeningservices.com

27/04/2026

The Summer Term has arrived. We’ve reached that point in the year for school HR teams.
More hires. ✅ More checks. ✅ More moving parts. ✅

Lots of small things that need chasing, checking and keeping on track at the same time.
None of them are difficult on their own. But together, they start to take over.

What stands out is how different it feels when the process is properly structured and supported. The requirements don’t change, but the experience of managing them does.

Less chasing.
Less back and forth.
Less pressure on already stretched teams.

It’s an area where many schools are starting to take a different approach.

There are certain points in every academic year when recruitment accelerates. The Summer Term is the most significant period.