DBS explained
DBS stands for Disclosure and Barring Service. A DBS check is the official way UK employers verify your criminal record history before hiring you for certain roles. For seasonal work, it comes up most often in childcare, resort rep jobs, kids club roles, summer camps and anywhere involving vulnerable adults.
There are three levels, and they are not interchangeable. The level your employer asks for is driven by the type of role. Applying for the wrong one wastes time and money.
The three DBS levels at a glance
Basic DBS (£18): Shows unspent convictions and cautions. Anyone can apply for their own through GOV.UK. Used for most general hospitality and adult-only roles.
Standard DBS (£18): Spent and unspent convictions plus cautions, reprimands and final warnings. Must be requested by an employer or umbrella body.
Enhanced DBS (£38): Everything in standard plus any police intelligence deemed relevant. Mandatory for childcare, teaching, and regulated vulnerable-adult roles. Often with the Children's or Adults' Barred List for extra £5 each.
Which DBS level do you need
Seasonal roles fall into a few clear buckets. If your role is not listed, ask the employer directly before applying.
- Basic: Bar staff, waiting staff, hotel reception, housekeeping, chalet host (adults only), lift operator, ski technician, kitchen porter.
- Standard: Some senior hospitality roles, security, and a handful of summer camp administrative positions.
- Enhanced: Nanny, kids club rep, ski school reception dealing with children, summer camp counsellor, resort rep with childcare responsibilities, tour operator family host.
If the role involves children, assume enhanced
Any role with direct unsupervised contact with under-18s almost always needs an enhanced DBS with a check against the Children's Barred List. Do not rely on a basic or standard certificate for these jobs. A reputable childcare employer will not let you start without the right level in place, and applying late is the single most common reason UK applicants miss their season start date.
How to apply
The route depends on the level. Basic is entirely self-serve. Standard and enhanced have to go through an employer or an approved umbrella body.
- Basic: Apply through the official GOV.UK service. You need proof of ID (passport or driving licence) and a five-year address history. Costs £18. Most certificates arrive within 1 to 14 working days by post.
- Standard or enhanced, employer route: Your employer submits the application for you, usually through a registered body. You provide ID and supporting documents. The employer often pays, though some pass the cost back.
- Standard or enhanced, umbrella route: If you want to hold a certificate in advance, pay an umbrella body (search "DBS umbrella body" for current providers) to process it. More expensive (£60–£90 including their admin fee) but you get it without a specific employer.
- Update Service: For £16 a year, the DBS Update Service keeps your certificate live and re-checkable by future employers. Worth it if you plan to do multiple seasons in childcare.
Food Hygiene Level 2
Food Hygiene Level 2 (sometimes called Level 2 Award in Food Safety) is the standard certification anyone serving or preparing food is expected to hold. Chalet operators, hotels, summer camps and festival catering teams all ask for it.
The course is short, affordable and almost always done online. A typical provider offers a 1 to 2 hour module with a multiple-choice assessment at the end. Pass and you get an instant PDF certificate.
Common online providers
Highfield: The most widely-recognised awarding body. Many training providers issue Highfield-accredited certificates. £15–£25 range.
Virtual College: CPD-accredited, widely accepted. Often on offer for £10–£20.
CPD Online College and iHasco: Solid mid-market options. Certificates typically downloadable the moment you pass.
Always check that a course is CPD-accredited or issued by a recognised awarding body (RSPH, Highfield, CIEH). A cheap unaccredited certificate may be rejected by stricter operators.
Allergen awareness
Allergen awareness has moved from optional to expected in the last few years, driven by UK legislation (Natasha's Law) and tighter operator policies. Expect chalet operators, hotels and festival caterers to ask for it alongside Food Hygiene Level 2.
- Most providers offer a short allergen awareness module (30 to 60 minutes) for £10–£20.
- Some bundle food hygiene and allergen awareness together for a small discount.
- Larger employers may run their own in-house allergen training on arrival, but an external certificate still helps your application stand out.
- If you are applying for a chalet host role, add allergen awareness to your CV alongside Food Hygiene Level 2. It shows you take the work seriously.
When to get yours
Timing matters more than people realise. Seasonal recruitment windows are short and the DBS queue is longest exactly when you need the certificate in hand.
- Food Hygiene Level 2: Do it the week you start applying. It takes 1 to 2 hours. No excuse to apply without it.
- Allergen awareness: Same evening. Bundle with food hygiene if your provider offers it.
- Basic DBS: Apply 4 to 6 weeks before your intended start date. Usually quicker, but the ski season rush (September to November) can slow things down.
- Enhanced DBS: Apply 8 to 12 weeks before. Even longer if you have lived at multiple UK addresses or have a common name. Plenty of applicants miss summer camp start dates because they left this too late.
A sensible order of operations
Book Food Hygiene Level 2 and allergen awareness this week. Download both certificates, save as PDFs, and add them to your PeakWave profile. Apply for a basic DBS through GOV.UK the same week if you are targeting adult-only hospitality roles. If you want childcare work, contact prospective employers or an umbrella body now to start the enhanced DBS. Do not wait until you have a job offer. Being ready is what gets you the offer.
Create a profile on PeakWave, list your certificates and let seasonal employers find you. Browse short, affordable food hygiene and allergen courses at PeakWave Courses. Free for candidates, always.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between basic, standard and enhanced DBS?
A basic DBS shows unspent convictions and cautions only and anyone can apply for their own. A standard DBS covers spent and unspent convictions plus cautions and warnings, and is requested by an employer for regulated roles. Enhanced DBS is the deepest check, including police intelligence relevant to vulnerable groups, and is required for most childcare and healthcare roles. Each level is more expensive and takes longer to process.
How long does a DBS check take?
Most basic checks come back within 1 to 14 working days. Standard and enhanced checks sometimes take 2 to 4 weeks, occasionally longer if your name is common or you have lived at multiple addresses. Always apply several weeks before you need the certificate. The start of the ski and festival season sees big backlogs, so plan ahead.
Can you do Food Hygiene Level 2 entirely online?
Yes. Most providers offer the full course online and issue the certificate instantly on passing. Typical providers include Highfield, Virtual College and CPD Online College. The course takes 1 to 2 hours and ends in a multiple-choice assessment. The certificate is a downloadable PDF you can attach to job applications immediately.
How often does Food Hygiene Level 2 need renewing?
Officially the certificate has no legal expiry date, so many providers call it lifetime. In practice, employers often ask for a certificate issued within the last 2 to 3 years. Food safety guidance is updated regularly and a current certificate proves you are up to date. Budget to retake every couple of seasons, especially if you are applying to larger operators.
Does the employer pay or do I have to?
Varies. Some larger chalet and hotel operators reimburse DBS and food hygiene costs once you start, especially for returning staff. Smaller employers almost always expect you to arrive with both already in hand. Having them ready before applying makes your CV instantly stronger and removes a reason for an employer to pass on you.
Do I need a DBS for a yacht or summer Mediterranean job?
Usually not. DBS is a UK-specific check used by UK-based employers. Yachts and overseas employers run their own background checks or ask for equivalent documents from your home country. That said, some UK-based summer camps, festivals and kids clubs abroad hire through UK companies that still require DBS. Read the job description carefully.
Certificates in hand. Time to get hired.
Add DBS and Food Hygiene to your PeakWave profile and let employers find you. Free, always.