What is BS7858 Limited Screening?

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BS7858 Security Screening

If your employees require BS7858 Security Screening in order to start working for your organisation, you are probably aware of how important the prompt completion of this vetting is. In case this is something new for you, it may come as a surprise for you that a typical BS7858 Security Screening process takes about a month. However, some exceptional cases take around 3 months to complete. This may sound like quite a long time just to get your new employee on site. After that, they can actually start performing their role.

Alternatively, employees can start working while their BS7858 screening is in progress. Sounds too good to be true? There are certain conditions though.

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Limited Security Screening

Under the BS7858:2019 standard, employers can use ‘Limited Security Screening’ (used to be known as ‘Conditional Screening’) to hire new staff right away. This allows you to offer conditional employment. The condition is that the employee completes full BS7858:2019 screening within 12 weeks of their start date.

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Requirements for Limited Screening

So, what are the minimum requirements to complete Limited Screening? To meet the first requirement, you must submit a fully completed BS7858 application form. This must include your exact employment history for the last 5 years, with no unexplained gaps exceeding 31 days. Without the fully completed application form it is impossible to commence screening. This is because we would not have the information to verify. Apart from the application form, documentation confirming identity and current address has to be provided. These documents should be in accordance with the SIA identity verification criteria.

Once we receive your application forms and documentation, we will begin the Limited Screening checks below:

• Confirmation of identity, current address & date of birth.
• Confirmation of right to work in the UK.
• Confirmation of SIA licence or evidence suggestion the applicant has applied for an SIA licence.
• Financial probity checks, confirming whether the applicant has any negative financial information, such as bankruptcies, county court judgement or similar.
• Verify at least three years of career history verbally or with documentation.
• A financial sanctions check.

Upon successful completion of the above checks, the employee may be offered conditional employment, subject to satisfying your organisations internal employment policies and procedures. Additionally, the terms and conditions of employment should clearly indicate this fact. They must show that full employment may only be offered on the basis that full BS7858 security screening is completed with the allowed period.

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So now that you know what Limited Screening is, you probably wish to find out how long does this take and whether this could be the solution for you?

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