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The short answer
There are four options: basic, standard, enhanced, and enhanced with barred-list checks. Each shows different information. The law limits which roles qualify for standard, enhanced and barred-list checks, so choose the check that the duties allow.
Scope: DBS in England and Wales; sector-specific rules may also apply
Compare the four options
| Check | Information | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | Unspent convictions and conditional cautions. | Anyone can apply for their own basic check. |
| Standard | Convictions and cautions, including spent records, except those left out under filtering rules. | Only roles listed in the legal rules. |
| Enhanced | Standard information plus relevant police information considered appropriate to disclose. | Eligible duties or positions. |
| Enhanced with barred lists | Enhanced information plus the children’s list, adults’ list, or both, where permitted. | Separate eligibility for each list. |
When a basic check is the relevant option
Anyone can apply for their own basic check. That does not mean a charity should ask every applicant for one. Decide why you need the information for the role and explain this to the volunteer.
For example, an organiser assessing a fundraising role should first define its duties and risks. Do not infer eligibility for a higher check from handling donations alone. If only a basic check is appropriate, asking the volunteer to provide a higher-level certificate from another role is not a way around the restrictions.
A standard check is not a general middle option
Standard checks are available only for roles listed in law. Check whether the role is on that list. Being unable to request an enhanced check does not mean you can request a standard one. [2]
Record the reason beside the proposed check level. This helps another organiser understand why two volunteers in the same organisation may have different checks.
Enhanced checks and barred lists are separate decisions
Check whether the duties qualify for an enhanced check. Decide which “workforce” applies: this is the DBS category for work with children, adults or other work. Then check separately whether you may request barred-list information. [3]
A volunteer saying “I already have an enhanced DBS” has not yet answered whether the certificate matches the new role. Ask which workforce it covers and whether any required barred-list information is included. Use the Update Service rules when considering reuse.
What none of these checks tells you
There is no DBS certificate that certifies someone as a suitable volunteer in every setting. Recruitment still needs a decision about the individual and the role. A check does not replace an interview, references, induction or a response to concerns.
A standard or enhanced check does not show every past record. Filtering rules leave out certain convictions and cautions. [4] Our separate guide to what a check shows explains how to read the information without making that assumption.
Sources and further reading
Last accuracy check: 25 September 2026. We review this series monthly against official guidance. Follow the linked guidance for the full conditions and any later changes.
- GOV.UK: checks you can make on someone’s record↩
- DBS: eligibility guidance for standard checks↩
- DBS eligibility guidance↩
- DBS: filtering guide↩
Government guidance is attributed to the bodies linked above. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0, where applicable. This guide provides general information; decisions depend on the specific role and setting.