Employment Verification

Question

We are a third party background screening company, reaching out to inquire about your company's policy on handling employment verifications for former and/or present employees.

Response

I can advise that we do not have a policy on handling employment verifications however we do undertake pre-employment checks in line with the NHS Scotland Partnership Information Network (PIN) Policy on Safer Pre and Post Employment Checks, which is attached and the following information is included in our Manager’s Guide to Recruitment Processes:

“Pre-employment checks

Pre-employment checks are carried out to ensure that the organisation is compliant with the Partnership Information Network (PIN) policies.

The checks that are carried out are –

Verification of Identity and Right to Work Checks – In accordance with PIN guidelines and Home Office regulations we are required to check the identity and right to work in the UK for all prospective employees. A list of accepted documentation is held within your e:ESS vacancy.

Occupational Health Checks – In accordance with PIN Pre placement health clearance enables NHS Boards to ensure that individuals are physically and psychologically capable of performing the tasks that will be required of them without risk to themselves or others.

Reference Checks – In accordance with PIN policy reference must be sought for all posts.  If the successful candidate is internal to NSS we only need to take a reference from their current line manager.  If they are external to NSS we need to take up reference that covers a minimum of 3 years of employment history. 

Criminal Reference Checks – If a post requires regulated work the successful candidate will need to undergo a Protection of Vulnerable Groups Act (PVG) check.  For some posts there is a requirement to obtain a Disclosure Scotland check.  If you are unsure if these will be required please ask the Recruitment Team.

Professional Registration - Professional registration is intended to protect the public, making sure that those who practice a health profession are doing so safely. For all posts for which registration with a specific statutory regulatory body is a requirement, evidence of professional registration must be verified prior to placement. In the case of medical staff, evidence must also be sought that individuals hold a licence to practice.

Evidence of registration must be obtained by directly contacting the statutory regulatory body to ensure ongoing registration. Boards must ask the relevant body to specify whether:

• The individual is appropriately registered
• The registration covers the proposed role
• The registration is subject to any current restrictions
• The individual is the subject of any fitness to practice investigations which the regulatory body has a duty to disclose

Qualification Checks - For all posts for which a specific qualification is a requirement, evidence of the necessary qualifications should be verified. Even if relevant statutory regulatory bodies check qualifications as part the registration process, Boards must still separately verify an individual’s qualifications. “

Information has also been published in relation to a request regarding services requiring identity verification and this was in response to FOI 2020-000316 published 25 September 2020.