How does civil service referencing work?

[Ambam]

It’s my first time posting so sorry for any errors! I was after any advice about how references work in the civil service.

I’ve been provisionally offered a job which is great but the online system is very clear you shouldn’t hand in your notice until you receive a formal offer. The system wants me to click “accept” and then give referees’ details. They request all my employers over the last 3 years (which is just one - my current employer). But they don’t say when they contact your referees. Does anyone know whether they contact them before you receive a formal offer as part of pre-employment checks (and therefore before you’re advised to hand in your notice)?

I’m on maternity leave at the moment and really like my boss so I’m very keen that they don’t contact her before I’ve spoken to her about leaving. But then I don’t want to tell her I’m leaving unless I have a firm offer!

Hope this makes sense. Thanks for any help!

If you’ve been provisionally offered a job this probably means it will be dependent on references, security checks, clearances and any other checks needed for the role. If you don’t think you’ll have any issues with these then the likelihood is that provisional will (eventually) become a firm offer. If you have a good relationship with your boss I’d give them a heads up, as I don’t think you’ll get much more until the reference checks are complete.

Oh and congratulations!!!

As I had only one employer during the 3 year period I was told they'd also require two personal referees, and would let me know when they needed the details.
Next thing I knew I had an email to say I'd passed all pre employment checks and someone would be in touch with a start date.
I emailed HR then with the personal referee details, had no response and they never contacted them either. As far as I know they didn't contact my former employer for a reference either. I'd have expected the Civil Service to be totally on the ball reference wise and the opposite in my own case was true.

The MoD doesn’t contact employers. They get your employment dates from HMRC and that’s that!

Thanks very much for your replies. I’ve done as you suggested Random and given my boss a heads up so hopefully it will all go through - I’ve just heard of civil service job offers being withdrawn before they’re formalised because of team restructures etc hence being a bit nervous. Feel the whole system could be a bit clearer! Thanks again for the help.