What checks should a care agency do on its carers? DBS, references and training explained
Before you let a carer through the front door, here's exactly what a responsible agency should have checked — and what to ask.
When a carer visits someone's home, they're being trusted with a person, a property and a family's peace of mind. Regulated agencies in England are required to recruit safely — but families are entitled to ask exactly what that means. Here's the checklist.
Enhanced DBS checks
The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is the criminal record check used in England and Wales. Care work requires the enhanced level check, which includes:
- spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings;
- any relevant information held by local police;
- a check of the adults' barred list — people legally barred from working with vulnerable adults.
An agency should carry this out before a carer's first visit, and it's a legal offence for a barred person to work in regulated care. Ask your agency to confirm every carer holds an enhanced DBS.
References
Safer recruitment guidance expects at least two references, including the most recent employer, verified by an actual conversation or written confirmation — not just names on a form. Gaps in employment history should be explored and explained.
Right to work
Every carer must have their right to work in the UK verified against original documents before starting.
Mandatory training
Care staff in England are expected to complete — and regularly refresh — training that typically includes:
- moving and handling (safe use of hoists and transfers),
- basic life support and first aid,
- infection prevention and control,
- safeguarding adults,
- medication awareness,
- fire safety and food hygiene.
New carers without experience should work towards the Care Certificate, the recognised national baseline standard, and should shadow experienced colleagues before working alone.
What the regulator checks
The Care Quality Commission inspects agencies against exactly these areas — its "Safe" and "Well-led" questions look directly at recruitment files, training records and supervision. An agency's CQC report (public at cqc.org.uk) will tell you if inspectors found problems with recruitment checks.
Questions worth asking any agency
- Is every carer enhanced-DBS checked before their first visit?
- Do you verify two references, including the last employer?
- What training do carers complete, and how often is it refreshed?
- Will new carers shadow before working alone?
- Can I see your latest CQC report?
A good agency will answer all five without hesitation — and be glad you asked.
At Bright London Care, every carer completes enhanced DBS checks, two verified references, right-to-work checks and annually refreshed mandatory training before caring alone. Read our CQC report via the badge in the footer, or call 020 8214 1321.
Questions about care? We answer the phone ourselves.