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Employment checks

Please be aware, NHS Employers has published temporary pre-employment check requirements for employers to follow during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please read the information available in our guidance section.

Pre-employment checking seeks to verify that an individual meets the preconditions of the role they are applying for.

There are six NHS Employment Check Standards that outline the type and level of checks employers must carry out before recruiting staff into NHS positions. Download guidance, resources and further information about each check in the pages below.

Please note that NHS Employers does not hold any information about individuals who are working or have worked in the NHS. All reference requests should be sent to the HR or personnel department at the relevant NHS organisation directly.

Reference requests sent to employmentchecks@nhsemployers.org will be deleted upon receipt.

Please also note, we do not respond to queries from individuals about specific recruitment issues. These should be taken up with the relevant HR department or employing organisation directly.

Identity checks

Understand the requirements to verify the identity of all prospective employees in the NHS.

Professional registration and qualification checks

Find out when and how employers should verify professional registration, qualifications and English language competency.

Employment history and reference checks

Download guidance on the process of seeking references and verifying employment and training history.

Right to work checks

Learn about the requirements for verifying an individual's right to work in the UK.

Work health assessments

Read about work health assessments for individuals undertaking new roles, or roles which have significantly changed.

Criminal record check

Access guidance, tools and resources on the criminal record checking requirements associated with eligible roles in the NHS.

Resources

Our resources include information on the practical day to day application of the standards, as well as a variety of case studies & examples of good practice.