With rising recruitment fraud and evolving legal requirements, effective employee vetting has never been more critical. This intensive one-day online course provides hands-on, practical training to help you build compliant and robust screening processes that protect your organisation from risk while delivering an excellent candidate experience.

Through interactive exercises, real-world case studies, and practical workshops, you'll develop the skills and knowledge to audit your current processes, identify vulnerabilities, and implement best-practice solutions.

Interactive Features

This course is designed for maximum engagement and practical application:

• Live polling - Regular pulse checks to gauge understanding and gather perspectives
• Breakout rooms - Small group discussions for peer learning and benchmarking
• Document analysis exercises - Hands-on practice with realistic scenarios
• Case study discussions - Learning from real-world successes and failures
• Q&A throughout - Bring your questions; no query is too basic
• Chat function - Share experiences and resources with fellow participants
• Action planning - Leave with concrete next steps for your organisation

Questions? Contact us to discuss 

10:00 Welcome and Course Introduction
Introductions, course objectives and setting the scene for the day ahead.

10:15 Legal Framework & Compliance Essentials
A comprehensive overview of the legal landscape governing pre-employment screening in the UK.

Overview of UK pre-employment screening legal requirements

1. GDPR and data protection obligations for screening
2. Employment Rights Bill implications for vetting processes
3. AI Act requirements and responsible AI use in screening
4. Industry-specific compliance requirements (healthcare, care sector, financial services, education)
5. Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and filtering rules

Interactive Exercise: Compliance Self-Assessment
Complete a structured compliance checklist for your organisation's current screening practices. Identify gaps and prioritise areas for improvement using a traffic light system. Share findings in breakout rooms with peers for benchmarking discussion.

Takeaway: Personalised compliance gap analysis with priority action items

11:15 Morning Break
11:30 Right to Work Checks Masterclass
Hands-on training in conducting compliant Right to Work checks across all verification methods.

The three-step manual document check process

1. List A vs List B documents: understanding the difference and implications
2. Online checks: using share codes and the Home Office service
3. Digital Verification Services (DVS) for British and Irish passport holders
4. eVisa transition: what employers need to know (BRPs no longer issued)
5. Employer Checking Service for complex cases
6. Follow-up checks and statutory excuse maintenance
7. Civil penalties: current rates (up to £60,000 per illegal worker) and how to avoid them

Practical Exercise: Document Verification Workshop
Work through realistic scenarios with sample documents. Determine which documents to accept, identify security features, spot common forgeries, and record checks correctly. Scenarios include:

1. British citizen with expired passport – what to do?
2. EU Settlement Scheme holder providing a share code
3. Skilled Worker visa holder with pending extension application
4. Clipped passport presented – is it acceptable?

Takeaway: Right to Work quick reference card with document checklist and decision flowchart

12:30 Lunch Break
13:15 Criminal Record Checks & DBS Deep Dive
Everything you need to know about DBS checks: eligibility, process, and decision-making.

1. Understanding the three levels: Basic, Standard, and Enhanced DBS checks
2. Eligibility criteria: which roles qualify for which level of check
3. Barred lists: Children's and Adults' lists explained
4. The DBS Update Service: benefits and how to verify certificates
5. Filtering rules: what must be disclosed and what is protected
6. Making fair recruitment decisions: Ban the Box principles
7. Overseas criminal record checks for international hires
8. Policy requirements: creating an ex-offenders policy

Case Study: Care Sector Vetting Failures
Analyse real-world cases where inadequate vetting led to serious consequences. Identify what went wrong, what checks should have been conducted, and how to prevent similar failures. Discussion includes safeguarding considerations and regulatory expectations.

Interactive Exercise: DBS Level Decision Tool
Given a series of job descriptions, determine the correct level of DBS check required. Work through the eligibility criteria systematically using the decision matrix provided. Compare answers with peers and discuss borderline cases.

Takeaway: DBS eligibility decision matrix and ex-offenders policy template

14:15 Fraud Prevention & Red Flag Detection
Learn to identify and prevent recruitment fraud before it damages your organisation.

1. Current fraud landscape: trends from Fraudscape and industry reports
2. CV and application fraud: fabricated qualifications, inflated experience, employment gaps
3. Reference fraud: fake referees, referencing houses, self-referencing
4. Identity fraud: counterfeit documents, impersonation, synthetic identities
5. Dual employment and undisclosed conflicts of interest
6. Organised crime infiltration and modern slavery indicators
7. AI-generated documents and deepfake concerns

Practical Workshop: Spot the Fraud
Review realistic application materials containing planted red flags. Working individually and then in pairs, identify as many warning signs as possible. Materials include:

1. CVs with inconsistencies and fabrications
2. Reference letters with tell-tale signs of fraud
3. Identity documents with security feature issues
4. LinkedIn profiles with verification concerns

Takeaway: Fraud detection checklist and verification question bank

15:00 Afternoon Break
15:15 Privacy, Technology & AI in Screening
Navigating the balance between thorough vetting and privacy compliance in a digital age.

1. Privacy law fundamentals: GDPR principles applied to screening
2. Social media screening: legal framework and ethical boundaries
3. Candidate consent: what's required and when
4. Data retention and security best practices
5. AI in screening: opportunities, risks and compliance requirements
6. Choosing and managing screening technology partners
7. PBSA accreditation: what to look for in a screening provider
8. Digitising your screening process: benefits and implementation considerations

Group Discussion: Balancing Privacy and Security
Facilitated discussion exploring real dilemmas organisations face: How much social media screening is appropriate? When should AI make screening decisions? How do you balance thorough vetting with candidate experience? Share perspectives and develop organisational principles.

Takeaway: Social media screening policy template and screening partner evaluation checklist

15:45 Action Planning & Course Close
Consolidate your learning and leave with a clear plan for implementation.

1. Complete your personal action plan: identify three priority actions for the next 30 days
2. Commit to one process improvement to implement immediately
3. Share your key takeaway with the group
4. Final Q&A and signposting to further resources

Takeaway: Personal action plan template and resource directory

16:00 End of Course

COURSE MATERIALS & TAKEAWAYS
All participants receive a comprehensive digital toolkit to support implementation:

Templates & Tools

1. Compliance gap analysis checklist
2. Right to Work quick reference card with decision flowchart
3. DBS eligibility decision matrix
4. Ex-offenders policy template
5. Fraud detection checklist and verification question bank
6. Social media screening policy template
7. Screening partner evaluation checklist
8. Personal action plan template
9. Resource directory with links to Home Office guidance, DBS services, and industry bodies

Reference Sources
Course content is based on the latest official guidance including:

1. Home Office Right to Work Checks: Employer's Guide (June 2025)
2. Disclosure and Barring Service guidance for employers
3. NPSA Pre-Employment Screening Good Practice Guide
4. CIPD Pre-Employment Checks Guide
5. ICO guidance on data protection in recruitment
6. PBSA (Professional Background Screening Association) best practice standards

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

1. Conduct compliant Right to Work checks using manual, online, and digital verification methods
2. Apply for and interpret the correct level of DBS check for different roles
3. Identify fraud red flags in applications, references, and identity documents
4. Audit your current vetting process to identify compliance gaps and vulnerabilities
5. Balance privacy requirements with security needs in accordance with GDPR and the AI Act
6. Select and manage screening partners effectively
7. Create a screening policy and risk assessment framework for your organisation

To participate fully in this online course, you will need:

• Stable internet connection
• Computer or laptop with webcam and microphone (tablets not recommended for exercises)
• Zoom or equivalent video conferencing software
• Quiet environment for participation in discussions and breakout rooms
• Ability to download and view PDF documents during the session

Pre-course preparation: Participants are asked to bring a copy of their organisation's current screening policy (if available) and consider current challenges they face with vetting processes.

This course is designed for professionals responsible for employee vetting and screening:

• HR Directors, Managers and Business Partners
• Recruitment Managers and Talent Acquisition specialists
• Security and Risk professionals
• Legal and Compliance officers
• Immigration and Right to Work compliance specialists
• Vetting and Onboarding team leaders
• Operations and Administration managers with screening responsibilities

“Excellent and comprehensive training on employee vetting and screening. The real-world examples brought the compliance requirements to life and gave me confidence to overhaul our internal hiring checks. Highly practical and immediately useful.” – HR Business Partner, Financial Services

“Really practical session with tools I can use straight away. The screening framework and risk scenarios helped me spot gaps in our current process that I can now address with clearer policies and documentation.” – Recruitment Manager, Healthcare

“The trainer created a supportive environment to discuss challenging topics around background checks and legal compliance. I left feeling much clearer about what a robust vetting process looks like in practice and how to balance thoroughness with candidate experience.” – Head of People, Professional Services

What does BFI specialise in?
BFI provides expert-led training in HR compliance, employment law, immigration for employers, union relations, workplace inclusion, and AI and talent solutions.

Who typically attends your courses?
Attendees include HR managers, legal teams, compliance officers, operations leaders, and public sector employers.

Are your trainers practitioners?
Yes. All trainers are experienced specialists; we feature practitioners from the public and private sectors as well as lawyers, policy advisers, former regulators, and consultants.

How do I book a course?
Choose an event on the website and click Register. You can pay online with a credit card or request an invoice.

Do you accept purchase orders?
Yes. Public and private-sector organisations may use PO numbers. These can be added during the registration process, or can be retrospectively added to am invoice if the place has been booked already.

We need to set you up as a Supplier, can you complete a form or send me over your company information?
Yes, we can do either; please contact us via info@bfi.co.uk

Can I get a PO number added to our invoice?
Yes, please send details through to info@bfi.co.uk or reply to us using your confirmation email

Do you offer group discounts?
Yes. Discounts for multiple bookings are automatically applied at checkout. For groups of over ten, it may be more cost-effective to run the course in-house. Call 01983 861133 for details

Can I transfer my place to another date or colleague?
Yes. Substitutions are free, and transfers are typically allowed within a set timeframe.

What is your cancellation policy?
BFI follows standard UK training-industry cancellation terms.

How are online courses delivered?
Training is delivered live via Zoom with interactive Q\&A and case-based discussion.

Will I receive slides and supporting materials?
Yes. Attendees receive slides, templates (where relevant), and many other useful documents and links.

Will I receive a copy of the event recording?
Our monthly subscription and webinar clients receive recordings of the live sessions; otherwise we do not record our courses to encourage confidential discussion and questions under the Chatham House Rule

What time zone are online events delivered in?
All events are delivered in UTC / London time unless otherwise stated

What is included in in-person events?
Full-day training includes refreshments, full documentation which is emailed prior to the event and networking opportunities.

Are your venues accessible?
Yes. All venues are fully accessible.

Are your courses CPD-certified?
Many courses are accredited by The CPD Certification Service.

Can I ask questions about my organisation’s situation?
Yes. Trainers answer questions during the session and can respond afterward.

Will the training help us prepare for an audit?
Yes, on our audit courses you will learn what triggers visits, what officers look for, and how to evidence compliance.

Will I receive a certificate?
Yes. All attendees receive a digital certificate of course completion.

Do you offer private or in-house training?
Yes. All courses can be tailored for your team. Visit https://bfi.co.uk/team-training/

Do you offer consultancy?
Yes. BFI offers policy reviews, audit preparation, HR compliance support, and workforce advisory services.