Pre-employment checks Civil Service

[Lockthedoor]

Hi all,

I am undergoing security checks for a role in the Civil Service, and I am very confused as to what they're doing.

In a nutshell, I have been waiting 2 weeks now, and it has been some 10 days since receiving the DBS certificate.

I called them a couple of times, and received somewhat dissonant answers.

Firstly, I was told that I only needed to undergo BPSS, which only take a couple of days. I doubt this is the case, as it's been 2 weeks and counting. Second, I was told the employment history would be checked through HMRC, so it would be really fast. Then, a different person told me that they only use HMRC if there are long delays with the references. Considering the summer break, delays are to be expected.

My countersignatory has already been contacted, and so has my accountant - which makes me think they have also dealt with my employment history. DBS checks have been completed.

Any idea as to what they're doing, and how long do you think is left?

Thank you!

Hi, I'm a civil servant. Please don't worry, the info gets fed down through multiple people. Its not a quick process at all but I understand your frustration. You will get confirmation, try not to stress to much.

Onboarding can take a really long time at the moment I'm afraid. Have you spoken to your line manager as they will be receiving updates

I've known of people taking 6 months to clear checks. That's by no means ordinary but it can happen.

I'd say typical is 6-8 weeks.

Just to add, there's a huge recruitment drive at the moment within DWP especially and with the new ways of working, things will definitely take a bit longer. Another poster suggested contacting your line manager. Excellent advice. They may have the power to push things along.

Thank you all for your replies. I will get in touch with my line manager and ask for an update.

Hey all,

So last week I received an email confirming I have passed the checks, and saying they were preparing a formal contract/offer letter. Do you know how long it takes them to do that? It's been a week and I cant figure out why it would take them longer than 30 mins to send over a standard offer letter and a contract...! Cheers!

You’ll have to be patient I’m afraid. It took 5 months from offer to starting when I joined (non Covid times)

And don’t expect anything to go quickly in the civil service- everything moves at a glacial pace

Getting the right info to filter down to the right people can take bloody forever in the civil service (once you're in, it's 50:50 between forever and immediate...)

I got re-hired as a contractor but checks took so long they might as well have gone through usual channels and not had to pay double my salary - this included a farcical bit where my manager was told I'd passed everything so I turned up, but IT hadn't been so I couldn't access anything. Then someone couldn't tell IT I'd passed all the checks for 'data protection reasons', so I had to send my confirmation to them myself (only via my manager because I couldn't yet use email...)

Don't take it personally and be prepared to spend a couple days reading printouts when you start.

And there was me thinking I would get everything in a matter of days...

@Lockthedoor hiya, can I ask if things have progressed for you? I'm about 4 weeks behind you in my pre employment checks and with 4 weeks notice hoping to start straight after Xmas, but not sure if things will be sorted by then.....

[quote feellikezerobucks]@Lockthedoor hiya, can I ask if things have progressed for you? I'm about 4 weeks behind you in my pre employment checks and with 4 weeks notice hoping to start straight after Xmas, but not sure if things will be sorted by then..... [/quote]
Hi Yeah of course you can!

I received confirmation that I had passed the security checks 15 days after they started them, then 1 week after that I received the contract and will start in 2 weeks!

I know this is common knowledge, but really depends on what sort of checks you are doing!

@Lockthedoor great news and hope you enjoy your new role

@Lockthedoor
Hiya! Do you mind me asking how you are getting on in your new role?

My checks came back really quick, interviewed 25th Aug, checks completed and signed the contract 25th Sept, start date 26th Oct...it's all very exciting as I assumed it would be the new year before everything was sorted!

Are you WFH? I will be from day 1. Kit is being sent to my home address.
Did you have any IT issues and how have you found your first few weeks?

Thanks

I once started a job in the civil service, HR told me when to start. Turned up on my first day and nobody had any idea who I was! That was fun.

[quote feellikezerobucks]@Lockthedoor
Hiya! Do you mind me asking how you are getting on in your new role?

My checks came back really quick, interviewed 25th Aug, checks completed and signed the contract 25th Sept, start date 26th Oct...it's all very exciting as I assumed it would be the new year before everything was sorted!

Are you WFH? I will be from day 1. Kit is being sent to my home address.
Did you have any IT issues and how have you found your first few weeks?

Thanks[/quote]
Hi! So far so good! :) Yes, working from home, and I think it's going to continue for quite a long while tbh. Lots of learning, but it's all very well spread i think, they give you a chance to settle in. I would suggest you to set the laptop up as soon as you receive and to follow the instructions (they are quite specific, so even if you are good with IT, trust me!), that would give you plenty of time to be sure you are all set up for your first day! Good luck! :)

@Lockthedoor thank you and glad it's going well for you!

@Funkypolar did things get any better?

Nope, it was a very dysfunctional department! I stayed for a year and left.

@Funkypolar 🤦🏽‍♀️

@feellikezerobucks what type of security checks did you have to go through?
I’m in the same boat. HR said 6-8 weeks but the timescales from the vetting agency are 8-12 weeks.
Also I’ve contact HR a couple of weeks ago and had no response. Can some civil servants please advise... is it pestering if I try again to get an answer?

@birdbybird I went through SC and basic disclosure.
I've already held both of these twice previously (once with no change in details) so not sure if that made things more speedy and I completed/ returned anything within 24hours.
What I did do was phone my onboarder as soon as I received my basic disclosure certificate and also whilst on the phone with them I checked my Portal which showed my SC was completed.
You need to chase 👍🏻

Also I’ve contact HR a couple of weeks ago and had no response.

That's because HR may not have yet received the results back from the UKSV. So they can't give you any further information yet.

Bear in mind what can be a slow process in normal times is even slower due to COVID19. Staff levels have been reduced.