Do I need a new DBS check for every care agency I work for?

No — there's no law that says you must get a brand-new DBS check every time you start with a different care agency. But in practice, most agencies ask for one anyway, because DBS certificates aren't automatically portable between employers unless you're subscribed to the Update Service and the new agency agrees to accept your existing check. That gap between what the law allows and what agencies actually do is the root of the duplicate-DBS problem freelance carers keep running into.

Why agencies keep asking for a new one

An enhanced DBS check is a snapshot: it reflects your record at the moment it was issued. It doesn't renew itself and it isn't tied to a central "carer passport" that every employer can check. Unless you're on the DBS Update Service, each new agency has to weigh up risk — and many default to running a fresh enhanced check rather than relying on a certificate they didn't request themselves, especially given safeguarding duties and CQC scrutiny.

This is a cautious, understandable response, but it means carers who work across two, three or more agencies can end up paying for and waiting on the same type of check repeatedly, even when nothing about their record has changed.

What the DBS Update Service actually allows

If you subscribe to the Update Service (within 30 days of your certificate being issued, and keep the subscription active — currently free for volunteers, paid for most paid roles), a new employer can do a free online status check instead of requesting a whole new application, provided:

• The check is for the same workforce type (e.g. adult workforce) and same level (enhanced, with the relevant barred list checks) as your existing certificate.
• The employer is satisfied the certificate is genuinely yours and still current.
• They choose to rely on it — accepting an Update Service check is standard good practice, but it's still the employer's decision, not a legal obligation.

So the mechanism for portability exists. The missing piece is a consistent, trusted way for agencies to actually use it — which is largely a process problem, not a legal one.

Practical steps if you're a freelance carer

• Get on the Update Service as soon as your DBS certificate is issued — you only have 30 days to sign up against that certificate.
• Keep your subscription active — a lapsed subscription means starting from scratch.
• Carry your certificate number and registration details so new agencies can do a status check quickly.
• Ask upfront whether an agency will accept an Update Service check or insists on a fresh application — it varies a lot, and knowing early saves you a wasted wait.
• Check for role/level match — if you're moving from, say, a children's workforce check to an adult workforce role, you'll likely need a new or additional check regardless.

Where carer sharing changes the picture

This duplication is exactly the problem Nanum's carer-sharing model is designed around. Instead of re-proving your identity, right-to-work and DBS status to every agency you pick up shifts with, the idea is to verify once at the platform layer and carry that verified status across every agency and care home you work with through Nanum — rather than repeating the same checks and paperwork each time. Agencies still see your verified status and make their own decision to accept a match, because a human always approves who covers a shift; Nanum doesn't decide that for them. The aim is to cut the duplicate-check burden without cutting corners on safeguarding.

The honest caveat

DBS rules and Update Service eligibility can change, and different agencies interpret their own risk appetite differently — some will always want their own check regardless of what you present. If you're unsure about your specific situation, the DBS Update Service guidance or your professional body is the authoritative source, and it's worth confirming directly with each agency what they require before you commit to a shift.

FAQ

Is it illegal for an agency to ask for a new DBS check if I already have one? No — it's entirely within an agency's rights to request its own DBS check, even if you hold a valid one from elsewhere. There's no law forcing them to accept an existing certificate, so this comes down to each agency's own policy and risk tolerance.

How much does a duplicate DBS check cost a freelance carer? Nanum doesn't set or track DBS fees, so for current costs check the official gov.uk DBS fees page — but the real cost for freelancers is usually the time lost waiting for a new check to clear before they can start a shift, not just the fee.

Does the DBS Update Service cover both enhanced and standard checks? Yes, the Update Service can be used for standard, enhanced and enhanced-with-barred-list checks, but the new employer's check request must match the same workforce type and level as your existing certificate for it to count as portable.