Therapists working in private practice will be able to access enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks from late January 2026, the UK Government has announced. 

This is part of a change in the law for those working in England and Wales to ensure greater transparency to protect children, or vulnerable adults, from abuse and harm. It will offer greater safeguards to parents and carers when seeking a therapist to work with their child. 

Currently, self-employed therapists can only access a Basic DBS check, which shows unspent convictions and cautions. 

Greater safeguards

But from late January, therapists working for themselves will be able to access the Enhanced DBS Check or the Enhanced with Barred List DBS Check from organisations that are registered and listed with the DBS. 

These checks show both spent and unspent convictions, as well as cautions, warnings and reprimands, and if you’re prohibited from working with vulnerable groups. Police would also share intelligence they consider relevant and proportionate to the counselling role. 

BACP isn’t on the list of registered organisations and can’t request checks for members, as counselling and psychotherapy aren’t listed by the DBS as professions which must be subject to an Enhanced DBS check. 

We’ve asked for more detailed guidance on the change and will share further information once we know more about how our members can request enhanced DBS checks. 

Address current imbalance

Jo Holmes, our Safeguarding Lead, said:  

“The new guidance will help address the current imbalance around who can apply for enhanced DBS checks and who can’t.   

“It provides an opportunity for those in private practice, who struggle to access enhanced DBS checks for themselves, to model greater safeguarding practices.  

“It also provides extra reassurance for parents and carers who are looking for a therapist for their child. 

“Giving self-employed therapists greater access to enhanced DBS checks will bring greater parity between private practitioners and those providing counselling services in more regulated sectors such as education, healthcare or for charities.” 

Jo added: “While any change in the law and subsequent guidance is key to protecting children from harm and abuse, parents and carers need to interpret information shared on Enhanced DBS forms with care when information listed is not directly related to working with children.”  

The change comes following recommendations from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), alongside the introduction of mandatory reporting for child sexual abuse, which is likely to become law next year. 

January 2026

It will come into effect in January 2026, although the Government has not announced a specific date for this. 

The Data and Barring Service is working together with other government departments and external stakeholders to ensure guidance is in place ahead of the change. 

Until a start date is confirmed, checks for self-employed applicants cannot be submitted. 

We’ll share further updates and guidance with our members as soon as we can. 

For more information about DBS checks for therapists please take a look at our FAQs about DBS checks.

Read the government’s announcement about DBS checks.