VETTING

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 4:50 pm

hi once again,
could anyone give me some info on vetting.
i have had quite alot of trouble when applying for work with my vetting. my work history is quite long,,,,being 3 a4 sheets full due to working in the building trade and security. i could work 1 month for one company before the contract would run out then 2 months at another and so on. it would be good if i could get help with the vetting before i applyed for work so i could speed the process.

Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 2:43 am

I'm not exactly sure what help we can give you but;
Most companies will do a telephone vet for the previous 5 years, so it is important that you have up to date contact information for those.
If they connat contact an emploer you worked for within the last 5 years everything grinds to a halt pretty rapidly.
If they are unable to contact an employer between 5 and 10 years ago they may allow you to make a Statutory Declaration in which you swear an Oath infront of a Solicitor to confirm you worked for them.

If you think you may have gaps or uncontactable employers, dig out any old P45's, P60's wage slips etc.

Rising Star Joined: Apr 27, 2005 Posts: 56

I have worked as a vetting/recruitment manager and I concur with what John says.

If the vetting officer can't obtain satisfying information for the previous 5 years, then this causes many problems. You can help out by visiting the local Department of Social Security or now the Department for Works and Pensions (DWP) and request a print of your claims history (this helps if you have been out of work but have been claiming benefits). Some DWP staff will try to refuse but you have the right to any information held on you under the Data Protection Act 1998 (you can remind them of this which normally works).

If you have a gap in this 5 year period, where your previous employer no longer exists, and you weren't claiming any benefits, the one way of proving you weren't serving time is to obtain a PNC report from your local police station - You only need to go your local station, ask for a form for access to subject data and pay them £10.00 for the honour. You will need a form of ID with you and it does take about a week-10 days to be sent through.

Other than the above, there isn't a great deal more you can do to help. It will ultimately fall on the shoulders and descretion of your vetting officer who will undoubtedly be restricted by company policy and regulations.

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 11:40 am

One company I worked for has closed down and I can't contact anyone...Another, only the specific department I worked for has folded, but I can't find anyone I know there, and one other place won't give me a reference although for the one who won't give me a reference, I do have my P60s...what should I do?

Rising Star Joined: Apr 27, 2005 Posts: 56

Hi Lauren and welcome to the GUild of Security.

The new company will probably ask you to sign a standard decalration to state you were employed during this time. This is an official and legal document that you should sign in the presence of an official (Solicitor, Doctor etc) and also countersigned by them.

Another alternative is to contact your Local DWP (Department of Works and Pensions) asking for a printout of any benefits wou may have been claiming during the period of employment; the fact that you were employed at this time shoul dbe shown by the fact that no benefits were being claimed.

It is difficult to completely vet a person when this information is missing, however, you say that the company is still in existence but only the department has closed down. If this is the case, then the company are obliged to retain your details (basic) for a period of no less than 7-10 years. Try getting in touch with the HR department, they should be able to help you I'm sure.

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 12:55 pm

Thank you; most of these jobs were undertaken while I was still in school and some were also work experience so I guess I'll just have to take on any challenges as they arise but I'm nowhere near the vetting stage yet.