Helping parents feel confident that they can trust their sitter is essential and having a DBS can increase your likelihood of being booked on Bubble. While holding a DBS or PVG certificate isn’t required to be on the app, getting it verified by Bubble can boost your profile and help you stand out.
What is a DBS or PVG check?
A DBS check (Disclosure and Barring Service) is a criminal records check used in England and Wales.
A PVG certificate is the Scottish equivalent of an Enhanced DBS, showing you’re not prohibited from working with children.
Enhanced DBS checks include checks against the Children’s Barred List and provide the most comprehensive background information.
Do I need a DBS or PVG to use Bubble?
You don’t have to have a DBS or PVG certificate to sign up or use Bubble. Sitters without one can still create a profile and receive bookings (but all sitters will undergo a third-party background check during their onboarding.)
However, parents are more likely to book sitters whose DBS/PVG has been verified. You’re free to mention in your bio if you hold a certificate the Bubble team hasn’t verified, but you won't gain a verification badge unless a certificate is uploaded and checked by Bubble staff.
How to get your DBS or PVG verified by Bubble
Upload your certificate
Go to the DBS section of your onboarding portal in the app and upload a clear photo or scan of your certificate.
Provide certificate details
Enter your DBS certificate number and the date it was issued.
Verification conditions
The certificate must have been issued in the last 18 months OR you must be subscribed to the DBS Update Service and provide your certificate number so we can check it online.
If you’re on the Update Service, we still need to see the original certificate because the barred list details aren’t available via the service. We cannot accept a certificate number without a copy of the original certificate.
What happens after you upload your DBS/PVG
Bubble staff will review your certificate internally.
Once approved, your profile will show a DBS Verified badge with the date of your check.
Your actual certificate is not visible on the app to parents — only the verification badge is shown.
Parents may still ask you to bring your certificate to a sit even if it’s been verified on Bubble.
About Enhanced DBS checks via Bubble & Verifile
Bubble partners with Verifile to offer sitters the option of applying for a DBS check directly through the app.
FAQs: Getting a DBS through Verifile:
Who can apply? Only employers or umbrella bodies like Verifile can submit Enhanced DBS applications. Individuals cannot apply on their own. These are currently for carers in England & Wales.
How long does it take? Typically around 2 weeks, but may vary depending on DBS processing times.
Cost: £72.59 (as of Jan 2025). This is the cost price of the check with digital verification through Verifile.
Identity verification: Completed digitally through Verifile. If you fail, you must verify manually with Bubble over a video call before the Verifile application expires (a cancellation fee may apply).
Certificate ownership: The paper copy of your certificate is posted to you and you can use it for other jobs.
Keeping up to date: DBS certificates don't "expire", but most parents to see expect checks within the last 12–24 months. Signing up for the DBS Update Service keeps your certificate current and verifiable online. Subscribers must register themselves within 30 days of receiving their certificate - this is not something Bubble or Verifile can do for you.
What happens if there’s a concern on the certificate?
As Bubble is a marketplace rather than an employer, we can only promote sitter profiles where the associated checks can be presented to parents as fully clear. If a valid certificate contains any record, disclosure, or notice, we reserve the right to remove the user from the Bubble platform.
This is because parents do not have access to individual background checks or DBS certificates themselves so could not make an informed judgement on the type of record, disclosure or notice that appears on a DBS, even if it seems irrelevant to a sitter's work or if it was a long time ago.
We apply the same safeguarding standards to all applicants and this decision should never be interpreted as a personal judgement about any individual.
New to Bubble and want to start babysitting? You can download the app for FREE here.