Screening

In the course of pre-employment checks a number of factors may, individually or in combination, raise concerns about the integrity or reliability of the applicant.

These factors include:

• involvement in illegal activities
• unspent criminal convictions relevant to the role, particularly if not volunteered by the applicant and only revealed by other checks
• false or unsubstantiated claims on the CV or application form
• unsubstantiated qualifications
• unexplained gaps in employment history
• adverse references
• questionable documentation e.g. lack of supporting paperwork or concern that documents are not genuine
• evasiveness or unwillingness to provide information on the part of the candidate.

Other stages of the recruitment process also give opportunities to screen candidates. Interviews, in particular, will help to form an opinion of their character. Credit reports can provide assurance that there are no significant credit or debt problems that could place the individual in a vulnerable position. Checks, tests and interviews help the employer to assess the integrity and reliability of the candidate.

Pre-employment checks

Pre-employment checks can be used to confirm an applicant's identity, nationality and immigration status, and to verify their declared skills and employment history.

Have you overcome all the hurdles? Are you complying with the new points-based system for employing migrant workers?

Employers within the National Infrastructure will want to be aware of the new points-based system (PBS) currently being phased in by the UK Border Agency (UKBA). They will also want to understand the introduction of the new identity (ID) cards for foreign nationals coming to work in the UK.

The PBS replaces over eighty existing routes to work and study in the UK for those from outside of the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland. Under the new regime, employers who wish to take on skilled workers from countries outside the EEA will require a licence and will have to sponsor the arrival of the employee. Employers should apply for registration with UKBA no later than 1 October 2008.

Under the new scheme migrants will need to pass a points-based assessment before they are given permission to enter or remain in the UK. The system will consist of five tiers with the number of points required dependent on the tier they are applying under. Points will be awarded on ability, experience, age and when appropriate the level of economic need within the sector the migrant will be working in. The PBS is being introduced in stages with Tier 1 already open. Tiers 2 and 5 will be open at the end of November 2008 whilst Tier 3 is currently suspended. More details about the opening date for applications under Tier 4 will be announced in October 2008. 

The biometric ID card for foreign nationals is the first part of the National Identity Scheme and will be rolled out on an incremental basis over the next three years to all foreign nationals. From 25 November 2008, the issuing of ID cards will apply initially to non-EEA nationals who are granted further leave to remain under the student and marriage or civil partnership categories. ID cards in time will replace existing leave to enter/remain documents, thus aiding employers in determining validity of immigration status. Ultimately, every foreign national, including EEA nationals resident in the UK for more than three months, will be required to obtain an ID card. The introduction of ID cards in November will tie in with the opening of Tiers 2 and 5 of the PBS.

CPNI will be amending its guidance to reflect these changes. Detailed guidance can be found on all matters relating to immigration and the PBS at the UK Border Agency website. Similarly the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) website contains information on the ID card scheme.

National security vetting

The national security vetting regime applies to certain employment positions which give access to protectively marked government information, or access to potential physical targets of terrorist attack and/or information that would be of use to terrorists.