BPSS Clearance: Things You Need To Know

With the latest advances in technology, the nature of work changes too. At times sticking to obsolete methods leads to time delays and wastage of resources. Thus governments across the world tend to outsource some of their services. But people handling government assets and privileged information should be trustworthy. Therefore, governments have security and background checks before recruiting direct employees and contract workers. In the United Kingdom, the process for pre-employment screening is known as Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). People willing to join public services, government-allied jobs, and armed forces must get BPSS clearance. Below we explain the essential things about BPSS.

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Who can apply for BPSS?

Every individual requiring government-based employment in the U.K requires the BPSS clearance. The employer needs to make arrangements for the check. There are agencies available for quickly completing the process. Nowadays, companies can opt for software and carry out the BPSS checks efficiently. Once obtained, the clearance is valid for ten years. But for non-UK-born people, it is essential to check the immigration status and the eligibility to work once a year. The process completion can take around 2-8 days.

The BPSS screening is also a part of national security vetting in the U.K. It consists of four essential elements, which are listed below.

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1. Right to work:

It is to check the nationality and immigration status of the workers. The check also strives to stop the illegal jobs that are available in the country. British citizens and people with indefinite leave to settlement are eligible. The document proofs required are as follows: passport, national identity card, permanent residence certificate, or adoption certificate. Non-UK residents should have biometric immigration documents and valid status for work issued by the Home office.

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2. Identity verification:

Without verifying the identity, it is not possible to complete the security checks. Thus it is essential to establish what the prospective employees say about themselves and their whereabouts. The method involves checking Name proof and address proof. And, at times, financial history is also a part of the identity verification process. The documents used for verification processes are as follows: the U.K passport, provisional photo-card driving license, Birth certificate, and adoption certificate.

Non-UK-born people can give a passport with a U.K stamp, visa, residence permit, marriage or civil partnership certificate, etc. For address proofs, recent utility bills, tax bills, and rent cards are acceptable.

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3. Criminal record check:

For BPSS, the check is not very intrusive and is equivalent to Basic DBS ( Disclosure and Barring Service). Apart from BPSS, it is also a part of background screening for the new joiners. It is mandatory for people in sectors like education, healthcare, banking, and security. The procedure involves looking for unspent criminal records. For this check, one needs to reveal the addresses a person stayed in the last five years. The authorities can also verify the passport, driving license, and insurance details. Though the checks do not have an expiry date, any update in official records renders the earlier verification invalid.

4. Employment history check:

An employer needs to verify the past three-year job status of the new joiners. It ensures that the information provided by the candidates is genuine. Any gap of more than six months needs a proper explanation. Freelancers and self-employed people have to produce written references from people they engage with professionally. For fresh graduates, documents on academics such as provisional certificates are sufficient. The check proves the honesty and integrity of the employees and is also helpful in determining their job suitability. Vetting agencies can place work history and gaps under separate categories too. The elements of BPSS have a collective acronym as RICE.

Significance of BPSS:

The purpose of BPSS is to ensure a uniform process for the screening of job applicants. It is mandatory for government-based jobs and in professions that handle information of national interests. Leaking of crucial data is a threat to business reputation. It can affect national security too. Therefore, it is recommendable to all employees, including the contractors. Often, companies can’t regulate all the data shared with part-time or contract workers. At least, the employer should complete the identity verification before the joining date. Another significant factor to be checked compulsorily is nationality and immigration status. Employing illegal workers could attract immediate fines and conviction charges.

Final Thoughts:

BPSS clearance certificates are a minimum requirement for employment screening in the U.K government jobs. Though companies can do the checking by themselves when you find it too intensive and time-consuming, one can take help from vetting agencies. They tend to have an excellent network and finish the process quickly.

It is not necessary to repeat the process every year for U.K citizens. For people belonging to other countries, the protocol is to repeat the check every twelve months. It mainly involves examining the work permit and immigration status. Also, screening and clearances are recommendable when people switch jobs.