Here at Secure Screening Services we aim to take the complexity out of the screening process to make the experience as seamless as possible for both you and your candidates. Whilst our industry requires us to know a whole load of technical jargon, we know that nobody’s a fan of TLAs (three-letter abbreviations, obviously!), so we will always speak in plain English and deliver on what we promise: no excuses. Read on for our simple explanation of the key differences between BPSS and BS7858 screening.
Baseline Personal Security Standard
BPSS is the required level of screening for anyone who has access to government assets in the course of their work. This includes members of the armed forces, civil servants, temporary staff and government contractors. Its purpose is to protect government assets and minimise the risk to national security. The following checks are included:
- Identity verification
- Right to Work
- Unspent criminal convictions
- Three years’ employment history, including gap checking
Whilst BPSS screening is mandatory in some industries and for some positions, it’s essential to appreciate that this level of scrutiny isn’t reserved for placements with compulsory permits and is, in fact, best practise across the board. Consequently, in recent years it has become a baseline for excellence in recruitment across all sectors, particularly the financial & communications sectors, energy providers and other sites of national, strategic importance.
The BPSS is also a necessary first line of screening for other government checks, including Security Check and Enhanced Security Checks, Counter Terrorism Checks, and Developed Vetting, Enhanced Developed Vetting and renewals. To learn more, see our dedicated BPSS blog post.
BS7858 Clearance
BS7858 clearance is a code of practice set by the British Standards Institute, which provides a high standard of pre-employment screening for candidates working in a secure or high-risk environment who have access to sensitive data, and/or who are working in public-facing roles or who hold positions of authority.
These checks can be carried out to different specifications, depending on the requirements of the organisation, but best practice guidance suggests they include the following:
- Identity verification;
- Right to Work;
- Basic DBS;
- Five years’ employment history, including references;
- Credit check.
How Secure Screening Services can help
At Secure Screening Services we know that employment screening is the cornerstone to your organisation’s success. We also understand that the screening process can be a daunting and lengthy one. Our highly experienced team of screening experts will help you to get the right people for the right roles, first time. Outsourcing your screening to us will afford you confidence in your people, and the peace of mind that comes from knowing that you have fulfilled any and all legal and regulatory obligations.
Click here to start screening your people today, and if there’s anything else we can help with please don’t hesitate to contact us. Martin and the team will be more than happy to help!
