When recruiting for non-clinical roles, it is essential to verify the applicant’s CV including employers, dates of employment, reasons for leaving jobs and gaps in employment to ascertain the candidate’s suitability and probity for a particular position.  Part of this verification process involves obtaining sufficient suitable employment references covering a minimum period of time.  This becomes mandatory when you are recruiting staff for the NHS (and this includes non-clinical staff) and the NHS Employers Standards are very clear about what has to be included in terms of verifying employment history and referencing.

This employment history and referencing check procedure covers the actions that the recruitment agency must take including:

• Verifying the candidate’s employment history.
• Referencing procedure.
• Process for acquiring employment, volunteering, training and personal references.
• The procedure for referencing candidates who are self employed.
• Senior appointment referencing.
• Armed forces referencing.
• NHS end of assignment reports.
• Overseas references.
• The process for translating references that are not in English.
• Compliance and audit procedures.

Length of document:  5 pages

Last reviewed / updated:  07.07.26

If you need more information on verifying candidate employment history, referencing procedures, NHSE Check Standards or answering these questions in tenders, please email fiona.brunton@bruntonconsultancy.co.uk