BS7858 security vetting

What is BS7858 security vetting?

A BS7858:2019 screen is essential in industries where employees require access to sensitive information, assets, or premises such as the Security Sector Education and Healthcare.

This British Standard is a tailor-made vetting process  for individuals within the security industry, as well as others including healthcare and education ensuring that security personnel and other individuals employed in sensitive roles are thoroughly screened.

The BS7858 code of practice, established by the British Standards Institution, ensures that organisations adopt a structured and consistent approach to vetting employees. This screening process involves comprehensive background checks, enabling companies to make informed, risk-based decisions about employing individuals in roles that demand trust and reliability.

Questions on BS7858 vetting?

To request BS7858 screening prices or to book a demo of our intuitive screening portal please call us on 0800 999 7858 or get in touch below.

BS7858 was updated in 2019. What changed?

The BS7858 standard was revised in 2019 by the British Standards Institution to enhance security screening procedures. The main updates for BS7858 vetting include the following.

  • Encourages annual rescreening of BS7858. Regular BS7858 vetting maintains compliance and workplace security.
  • Employers must actively assess which roles require BS7858 vetting
  • Wider definition of screening. Risk based assessments such as finncial checks were added to BS7858 vetting in addition to factual verifications.
  • Upgraded GDPR compliance
  • Character references no longer required as part of BS7858 vetting
  • Watchlist checks added to the screening procedure.

You can find more details here

Which checks are undertaken for  BS 7858 vetting?

The primary goal of  BS7858 vetting is to help organisations gather sufficient information about prospective employees through a comprehensive vetting process. This process is necessary to assess whether individuals are suitable to work in security environments or roles that grant access to sensitive information.

Whilst initially introduced for security related roles,  it is now considered to be the industry standard for all pre-employment screening​, as the BS7858 code of practice reinforces the importance of implementing rigorous background checks, including criminal record checks and identity verification, to safeguard people, property, and sensitive information.

Right to Work Verification

The standard requires verifying the candidate’s eligibility to work in the United Kingdom, ensuring compliance with legal requirements and immigration laws. This critical screening check confirms the individual’s right to employment, forming a fundamental part of the screening process under the British Standard.

Financial Probity

BS7858 may involve conducting credit checks to assess the candidate’s financial stability and responsibility. This check is particularly important for roles involving financial management or access to sensitive financial information. Financial background checks help in screening individuals by evaluating any financial risks they might pose in a security environment.

Criminal Record Check

BS7858 pre-employment screening requires a thorough criminal record check to identify any previous convictions, pending charges, or cautions that may impact the candidate’s suitability for the role. These criminal record checks are conducted through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) as part of the vetting process defined by the British Standards Institution’s code of practice. This check helps assess the candidate’s integrity and reliability.

Reference Checks

The standard necessitates contacting the candidate’s previous employers or professional references to gather insights into their work ethic, performance, and character. This step helps assess the candidate’s suitability for the role.

Employment History

The standard mandates comprehensive checks on the candidate’s employment history. This includes verifying previous employers, job titles, and periods of employment. It aims to validate work experience and uncover any discrepancies or gaps.

 

The standard mandates comprehensive checks on the candidate’s employment history. This includes verifying previous employers, job titles, and periods of employment. It aims to validate work experience and uncover any discrepancies or gaps. A thorough review of employment history is an important component of the employment screening process, ensuring that personnel have a consistent and reliable background.

Identity Verification

BS7858 employment screening requires the verification of the candidate’s identity using reliable and verified sources, ensuring that the provided personal information matches official documents. Identity verification is fundamental in the screening of individuals, preventing identity fraud and protecting access to sensitive areas within the security mandated environment.

Efficient & user-friendly pre employment screening for BS78758:2019

With our background screening software it’s quick and easy to prepare candidates for pre-employment screening, select from the variety of checks available, and monitor each candidate’s screening progress as we complete it.

To learn more about how our screening services can help your organisation, or to book a demo, please get in touch.

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When is a 5 year 7858 screening required?

A 5-year screening is generally considered sufficient for roles with moderate security requirements. It applies to positions where the individual’s access to sensitive information, property, or secure environments is limited or involves lower levels of risk to people and property.

A 5-year BS7858 screening standard is deemed suitable for employees working in environments with routine security needs. This includes individuals employed in roles that involve handling non-critical or non-sensitive assets, and roles where public confidence is a factor but the risk level is not high.

Some examples include:

    • Security Guards
    • Alarm Installation
    • Alarm Receiving Centre
    • Keyholding and Response

    When is a 10 year 7858 screening required?

    The decision between a 5-year and a 10-year BS7858 screening depends on the organisation’s risk assessment and any industry-specific compliance requirements as outlined in the British Standards code of practice. For roles within the security industry that carry higher risk, a more extensive vetting process is necessary.

    A 10-year screening is typically mandated for higher-risk roles that involve significant access to sensitive information, secure environments, or critical assets. These positions require a more comprehensive background check of the individuals employed to mitigate potential security threats.

    Examples include:

    • Employees in high-security environments, such as financial institutions, government contracts, aviation or data centres.
    • Cash and valuables in transit
    • Roles with access to sensitive or classified information.
    • Positions where failure to meet security standards could result in significant harm to people, property, or reputations.

    In such cases, it’s crucial to conduct thorough vetting to British Standard BS7858 to ensure the safety of people, data and property.