At Leader Education, our education recruitment service is built on a strict compliance procedure. We understand just how important the protection of the pupils that attend your primary, secondary or SEND/alternative school or unit is, and we take the vetting of all our candidates extremely seriously as a result.
Our candidates undergo a rigorous registration process, which involves numerous checks. Whilst candidate registration begins online via our specially devised registration form, it doesn’t end there.
In an age where everything can be completed online, we believe that compliance should always be completed face-to-face and via the relevant, recommended channels. On this page, we summarise our compliance procedure so you can rest safe in the knowledge that the candidates we select on your behalf are the best people for the job.
Putting face-to-face first
After completing our online registration form and discussing their application over the phone with one of our dedicated and experienced education recruitment consultants, all candidates are invited and required to attend a face-to-face interview at their nearest Leader Education branch.
At this interview, our compliance team and a senior education recruitment consultant will verify the requested documentation to ensure registration can be processed to the highest standards and in accordance with the latest safeguarding legislation.
Various documentation and details will be gathered during this face-to-face interview to ensure our compliance team can proceed with completing the numerous vetting checks.
How we vet our candidates
Our compliance team works closely with the candidate and various institutions, governing bodies and organisations to complete a long list of checks. This ensures candidates are thoroughly vetted before they are considered for roles within your primary, secondary or SEND/alternative school or unit.
As part of the registration and compliance process, all candidates will undergo a:
- Reference check – candidates must provide at least two professional referees, including one from their current or most recent employer.
- Identification check – candidates must provide photographic identification for verification, such as a valid passport, UK biometric residence permit or current UK driving licence.
- Barred list check – the current and previous surnames (including any variations of their full name) will be checked using the teachers’ pensions online checking system
- Prohibition and sanction check – this includes checks for teachers who have failed an induction process or probation period; teachers, support staff and other professionals who are prohibited from the profession; and professionals who are barred from independent schools, academies and free schools. During this stage, a GTCE sanction check will also be completed.
- Disclosure and barring service (DBS) check – a new DBS will be requested or the candidate can undergo an update service check with signed consent if they have their original DBS certificate.
- Date of birth check – the candidate will be required to provide their passport, driving licence, birth certificate (UK only), or a valid national identity card (EU) for verification.
- Change of name check – the candidate will provide any applicable marriage certificates/civil partnership certificates, divorce papers or deed poll certificates for verification.
- Proof of address check – the candidate will provide a valid bill (for their utilities, landline, bank, building society or credit card) from the last 3 months and a council tax bill, mortgage statement, pensions or endowment statement, P45 or P60 from the last 12 months to confirm their home address.
- Qualifications check – we work closely with issuing institutions and the NCTL to verify all candidate qualifications.
- NCTL check – again we liaise with the National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) to confirm a candidate’s teaching status.
- Medical fitness to work check – candidates must declare themselves medically fit to work before registration can be completed.
- Disqualification check – candidates looking to work within a specific age range will undergo this particular check.