The British Standard BS7858:2019 is an important security check especially if you are hiring for jobs that need high trust. If you work in fields like alarm installation and secure shredding, this standard makes sure employees are reliable and safe to handle sensitive tasks. If you follow BS7858:2019, you need to complete strict checks to reduce risks. This keeps your organization secure. If your company must meet this standard, here are the seven checks you will need to do.
1. Proof of Identity
Proof of identity is the first and main check you need to do under BS7858:2019. This step makes sure who you are and removes the risk of fake identities. If you are an employer, you must check original documents like a valid passport, driving license or birth certificate to confirm identity. This step is very important. It is the base for all other checks. If you do not verify your identity clearly, other checks like criminal records will not mean anything. As an employer, you must make sure the documents are real and up-to-date.
2. Proof of Address
In BS7858 vetting, you need to provide proof of your current address. This step confirms you live and where you say you do. This makes the screening process more reliable. If you are an employer, you can accept documents like utility bills and bank statements from the last three months to check the address. This step not only proves where you live but also helps confirm other details like your work history or other financial records. If there are mistakes or differences in address details, it could mean risks or fraud. That’s why you must be careful and accurate during this check.
3. Right to Work
Under UK law, you must show that you have the legal right to work in the country. If you are an employer, you need to check documents like work permits and visas. Residency cards are also important to make sure a candidate can work legally. You must keep clear records of these checks. These show that you follow the law and rules. If you find that a candidate does not have the right to work, you cannot continue their vetting process.
4. Year Credit and Financial Check
Financial integrity is an important part of BS7858:2019. You will need to check a candidate’s credit and financial history for the last 5 years to make sure they are financially stable. This helps ensure they are not in a situation where they could be easily exploited or act unethically. This check looks at things like bankruptcies, County Court Judgments (CCJs), or any other problems with money management. Also, you must verify the candidate’s address history for the past five years. This is also necessary to make sure it matches the information they gave you.
5. Year Career References
To follow BS7858:2019, you need to gather references for the last five years of a candidate’s work history. These references help show that the candidate is trustworthy and right for the job. You must contact previous employers directly to confirm the candidate’s job titles and duties. If there are any problems or gaps in this information, you should investigate further to avoid any risks. In some cases, you have to choose to check references for the last 10 years for extra safety. If a candidate doesn’t have recent work experience, you can accept educational or character references from a trustworthy source.
6. Address Career Gaps
If there are gaps in a candidate’s work history especially if the gap is longer than 31 days, you need to check them carefully under BS7858:2019. You must get proof to explain each gap in the candidate’s career. This proof could be things like travel documents and school records. Remember that having a career gap is not always a problem. If you don’t explain it, it might make you wonder about the candidate’s trustworthiness or honesty. By looking into these gaps, you can make sure you have a full understanding of the candidate’s background.
7. SIA Licence Verification or Criminal Record Check
If the candidate’s job needs an SIA (Security Industry Authority) License, you need to check if their license is valid or not. This check makes sure the candidate has met the legal and regulatory rules for working in security roles. Some jobs that don’t need an SIA License like alarm engineers or secure shredding workers. You must do a criminal record check instead. This check is important to find out if the candidate has any past criminal behaviour that could be a risk to the company.
To Sum Up
BS7858:2019 sets a strong standard for security checks and it is important. The seven checks listed above are the basic steps to make sure you build a trustworthy and secure team. Each step is important to make sure everything follows the rules and keeps risks low.
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