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When you apply for a job with us you will be asked to provide proof of eligibility to work in the UK and contact details for referees. If you are successful at interview for a post your contract of employment will then be subject to satisfactory reference and criminal records checks.

Eligibility to work in the UK

It is a criminal offence to seek employment and certain voluntary work if not legally eligible to work in the UK.

Under the Asylum and Immigration Act it is a criminal offence to employ a person unless they are British citizens, Commonwealth citizens with right of abode in the UK, citizens of any country in the European economic area, or a person with current and valid permission to be in the UK or who comes into a category specified by the Home Secretary where employment is allowed.

Successful applicants will be asked to present the relevant documents to demonstrate their eligibility to work in the UK.

More information can be found at www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk.

References

We require 2 references, one of whom must be your current employer if you are currently in employment.

If the position is a Financial role references must be provided for the complete three year period preceding application for a post. If you are unable to provide references for a complete three year period please give the employer who employed you for the longest period during that time.

For posts involving working with vulnerable groups references must be provided for the complete three year period preceding application for a post, at least one acceptable reference will be required from the last post in which you worked with vulnerable groups. If you are not currently working with a vulnerable group but have done so in the past, it is a requirement that you provide the reference details of the last employer where you worked with such a group, even if this is more than three years ago.

References will be sought prior to interview for posts working with vulnerable groups unless there are exceptional circumstances as deemed acceptable by the recruiting manager. Under the Equality Act 2010, at this stage, health or absence related information will not be requested. Should you subsequently be successful at interview and made a conditional offer, this information will then be sought from referees.

Students should give senior tutor or studies supervisor. If unemployed, please give most recent employer. References from relatives or people writing solely in the capacity of a friend will only be accepted in exceptional circumstances.

Criminal records check

If you are successful at interview for a post that requires a criminal record check, you will be asked to provide evidence of your identity and complete an application for a criminal record check. We will determine the level of check required, dependent on the role and in accordance with legislation.

All criminal record checks are completed online and are processed through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). There are four levels of check:

Having a criminal conviction, caution, reprimand or final warning will not necessarily bar an applicant from working for Dudley Council. This will depend on the nature of the role and the circumstances and background of the offence(s).  Please see the policy document below for further information.

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