Congratulations on getting the job!
Your new line manager will call you to congratulate you personally and discuss the terms of our offer. They will also explain the pre-employment checks and paperwork we need to get sorted for you prior to you starting.
All of our offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of the pre-employment checks which are covered in more detail below. If you are currently employed we advise holding off handing your notice until all pre-employment checks are cleared.
As we need you to fill out some forms and may also require you to provide identification (if you haven’t already provided this at interview) we will try to arrange a suitable time for you to can come in and see us. This will be an ideal time for you to meet your future colleagues for the first time and also saves unnecessary delays in getting you started.
We will arrange for a formal ‘conditional’ offer to be sent to you shortly after the initial conversation with you.
Pre-Employment Screening
The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service must comply with the HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard outlined by the Cabinet Office and UK employment legislation. We therefore verify all elements below for new staff before they start:
Identity – You may have provided identification at interview, if not we will ask you to come in and provide us with original copies so we can verify them.
Nationality and Immigration Status (including an entitlement to undertake the work in question) - You will be asked to provide proof of your eligibility to work and remain in the UK and the Civil Service for the purpose of the job.
Employment History (Past 3 Years) – We seek to verify your employment history and suitability for appointment by contacting the referees you noted on your application. If you do not wish for us to contact them at this stage please let us know. If this is your first job or you have not been in employment for this period, alternative reference checks will be completed e.g. Educational. Prospective employees are additionally required to give a reasonable account of any significant periods (6 months or more in the past 3 years) of time spent abroad.
Criminal Records Check - For this purpose a ‘standard’ level Disclosure Scotland Check will be completed. Due to our involvement in the judicial process the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This means that all convictions whether they be spent or unspent will be considered to determine your eligibility for appointment.
Disclosure is a document which contains impartial and confidential criminal history information that is held by the police and the government departments. The Disclosure could include information on criminal records, person’s included on children’s lists, and other relevant information held by the police force or government body local to you. You will be given instructions on how to complete your Disclosure and what supporting documents you need to provide. All confidential information that you provide in your Pre-Employment will only be seen by HR and Disclosure Scotland.
Occupational Health Checks – We will ask you to complete a confidential online health questionnaire. Your responses will be reviewed by our occupational health provider and depending on your responses a follow up consultation may be required. Our occupational health provider will determine if you are able to up appointment and will also make recommendations for any adjustments that may need to be made for you to help you in your job.
Only after all these checks have been completed and the results found to be satisfactory will we be able to make an unconditional offer. Refusal to provide any of the information stated above will be taken into account when making the employment decision and employment may be refused.
How long will Pre-Employment Screening take?
Pre-Employment Screening normally takes approximately 4-6 weeks to complete once we have all the completed paperwork.
If you have any questions please email recruitment@scotcourts.gov.uk
Thank you once again for choosing the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, we very much look forward to you joining up and helping us to Build a Stronger Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service for the 21st Century.