Request

You asked us:

I would like to request the following information regarding your pre-employment checks:

1. The time it takes to complete all pre-employment checks from the time a job offer was made. If possible, I would appreciate it if this could be based on an average from April 2024 to the present.
2. A detailed list of what constitutes your pre-employment checks.

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) received your request on 12 February 2025.

We have handled your request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000.

Our response

I can confirm that the NHSBSA holds the information you have requested

Question 1

From April 2024 to February 2025, the average time it took for NHSBSA to complete all pre-employment checks following a job offer was 39 calendar days.

Question 2

Pre-employment checks required will vary depending on the job role and individual scenario/circumstances of the candidate. But pre-employment checks can constitute of the following:

• Right to Work (RTW) check

• Identity (ID) Check – For NHS Employer standards: Two forms of photographic personal identification and one document confirming current residing address or one form of photographic personal identification and two documents current residing address

• Criminal Records Check – Disclosure and Barring (DBS) check at varying levels Basic, Standard and Enhanced (Enhanced including adult’s and children’s barred list as appropriate). If a DBS is required, ID documents will also be gathered in line with DBS guidance.

• Criminal Records Check – Self Declaration in the form of model a or model b form

• Criminal Records Check – Overseas police check

• Work Health Assessment – Occupational Health Check

• Professional Registration

• Qualifications

• Employment History and Reference Checks – To cover all employment and any gaps over a period of three consecutive years for new appointments. There are some variations depending on the individual scenario.

Further guidance on NHS Employers checking standards can be found via the following link should this assist with the information requested: https://www.nhsemployers.org/recruitment/employment-standards-and-regulation

Data Queries

Please contact foirequests@nhsbsa.nhs.uk ensuring you quote the above reference if you have any specific questions regarding this response; or, if you feel you may be misunderstanding or misinterpreting the information; or, if you plan on publishing the data.

Reusing the data and copyright

If you plan on producing a press or broadcast story based upon the data please contact communicationsteam@nhsbsa.nhs.uk. This is important to ensure that the figures are not misunderstood or misrepresented.

The information supplied to you continues to be protected by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 and is subject to NHSBSA copyright. This information is licenced under the terms of the Open Government Licence detailed at:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Should you wish to re-use the information you must include the following statement: “Data Warehouse, NHSBSA Copyright 2025” Failure to do so is a breach of the terms of the licence.

Information you receive which is not subject to NHSBSA Copyright continues to be protected by the copyright of the person, or organisation, from which the information originated. Please obtain their permission before reproducing any third party (non NHSBSA Copyright) information.