Reference Checking

[stopthebussIwanttogetoff]

I'm looking to introduce a reference checking service to our recruitment process. Has anyone in HR out there done this? We are a small organisation and usually complete around 20-30 recruitment campaigns per year. We do have a child protection requirement to fulfil to ensure that candidates are safe to work within an educational environment. I've taken to google to search and it's not quite as easy as I thought. Lots of organisations out there and its much more expensive than I thought it would be. Any pointers that anyone has will be really helpful.

I would speak to your LA.
They may have something you can use and have an arrangement to do DBS checks in bulk.

Some of your applicants will already have DBS registered online and you need a system to check these. The LA will use KCSIE and Working together to safeguard children plus local guidance.
They can tell you what records you can and can not keep and who can access the information.
It is easier to use their procedures and see if they have a SLA that will cover you for the year, although there will be a cost for each check whoever you use. But they will already have identified the pitfalls and this will save you time and worry.
An enhanced check is @ £44 but you may pay double through other companies. The LA will also have their own rules about how long they are valid for. Some LAs require a recheck after 3 years and some it is 5 years. They all vary. But the LA will help in setting up a central register for staff, volunteers, visitors and trades people if needed.

Thanks for your response. We do already have online DBS checking and central registers. It's purely reference checks that we'd like to automate as they take up a lot of resources, continuously chasing manually after they've been sent and not responded to. I've had one supplier come back to me but admit that their template is standard and cannot include the safeguarding questions we need to ask in every reference request. I'll keep searching, there's got to be something out there that can help us.