AccessNI Checks: Which One Do You Need?

Suitable for roles such as: 

Retail assistants & shop workers 

Hospitality staff (bar, restaurant, hotel staff) 

Construction & trade workers 

Office/admin roles 

Delivery drivers & warehouse staff 

Taxi drivers & private hire drivers (licensing requirement, may require a basic accessni check) 

Security industry staff (certain licences, including enhanced accessni check for specific positions)

Suitable for roles such as: 

Accountants & auditors 

Financial services professionals (banking, insurance, FCA-regulated roles) 

Solicitors, barristers & legal clerks 

Court officers 

Certain government/public sector contract roles

Veterinary Staff 

Positions of trust where safeguarding is not directly required but integrity is essential

Suitable for roles such as: 

Childcare & Education: nursery staff, teachers, classroom assistants, afterschool club leaders  

Healthcare: doctors, nurses, care assistants, domiciliary carers, paramedics, dentists. 

Social Work & Adoption: foster carers, social workers, and adoption services. 

Youth Work: sports coaches, youth leaders, and community volunteers working with under-18s. 

Volunteering with vulnerable groups: church groups, charities, and mentoring projects. 

Care Homes & Residential Services: managers, staff, and volunteers working with vulnerable adults.

Basic Check – Suitable for volunteers in roles with no direct responsibility for children or vulnerable adults, such as fundraising, admin, event stewards, and charity shop assistants. This is often referred to as a basic AccessNI check. 

Standard Check – While rarely required for volunteers, a standard AccessNI check may be necessary for those in legal, financial, or regulatory voluntary roles, for example, charity trustees managing finances in regulated areas. 

Enhanced Check (with or without barred list check) – An enhanced AccessNI check is required for volunteers who have regular contact, whether supervised or unsupervised, with children or vulnerable adults. This includes roles such as: 

• Sunday school helpers and youth group leaders 
• Sports coaches 
• Befrienders or mentors for vulnerable adults 
• Volunteer drivers transporting children or adults in care 
• Volunteers working in nurseries, schools, care homes, hospitals, or youth services.