National Security Vetting
The Vetting System
'National Security Vetting is a process of examinatison and evaluation, generally referring to performing a background check on a person before offering them employment.'
Why is the vetting system necessary and what does it aim to achieve?
The UK needs a security vetting system to protect against threats from hostile intelligence services, cyber security threats, terrorists and other pressure groups. Vetting concludes who can be given access to sensitive Government information or property.
Who does it apply to?
The system applies to people in some of the following industries whose employment involves access to sensitive Government assets: Central Government employees, members of the Security and Intelligence Agencies; members of the Armed Forces; the Police service; Nuclear Power Stations and employees of certain other Non-Government organisations that are obliged to comply with the Government's security procedures; employees of contractors- consultancies providing goods and services to the Government sectors.
How does the National Security Vetting system work?
All candidates for jobs that provide access to sensitive information or sites are asked to complete one or more security questionnaires, which invite them to provide the personal details needed to enable the necessary checks to be carried out. Interviews may also be carried out. The depth of checks varies according to the level of regular access to sensitive information that the job entails.
How do I get a Security Clearance?
First you will need a sponsor. Individuals and companies cannot ask for a security clearance unless they are sponsored, and you will not be sponsored unless they are contracted (or are in the process of being contracted) to work on one or more specific MOD or Central Government classified projects.
Why does the Government insist on having sponsors for National Security Vetting? Why can't I just apply for a security clearance myself?
National Security Vetting provides a certain level of assurance at a point in time, as to an individual's suitability to have trusted access to sensitive information.
It does not provide a guarantee of future reliability and all security clearances are kept under review to ensure that the necessary level of assurance is maintained. This review is carried out by Government Departments and Government-sponsored contractors, who are responsible for the oversight and aftercare of individuals, granted a security clearance.
The main types of National Security Vetting are listed below and are processed by the following Governments agencies:
Defence Business Services, National Security Vetting (DBS NSV)
Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)
Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)
Developed Vetting (DV) or (DV Cleared)
This is required for people with substantial unsupervised access to TOP SECRET assets. The following security vetting stages are mandatory before a DV clearance can be approved:
Baseline Personnel Security Standard (Which is normally undertaken as part of the recruiting process)
Departmental / Company Records Check
Security Questionnaire
Criminal Record Check
Credit Reference Check and review of personal finances
Security Service Check
Check of medical and psychological information provided
Subject Interview and further enquiries, which will include interviews with character referees and current and previous supervisors
On completion of the vetting process, the information collected is assessed and a decision made to refuse or approve a DV clearance.
Once a clearance is granted, it is only valid for a pre-determined period after which a review must be conducted if the clearance is still required. The time interval before a review is required is specified in guidance issued by the cabinet office.
Security Check (SC) or (SC Cleared)
This is required for people who have substantial access to SECRET or occasional controlled access to TOP SECRET assets. The following security vetting stages comprise a full SC clearance:
Baseline Personnel Security Standard (Which is normally undertaken as part of the recruiting process)
Departmental / Company Records Check
Security Questionnaire
Criminal Record Check
Credit Reference Check
Security Service Check
On completion of the vetting process, the information collected is assessed and a decision made to refuse or approve a SC clearance.
Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) or (CTC Cleared)
This required for people who work in close proximity to public figures, or who have access to information or material vulnerable to terrorist attack, or involves unrestricted access to government or commercial establishments assessed to be at risk from terrorist attack. A CTC does not allow access to, or knowledge or custody of, protectively marked assets, but the Baseline Personnel Security Standard which is carried out on all MOD personnel and contractors, allows a degree of access. The following security vetting stages are mandatory before a CTC clearance can be approved:
Baseline Personnel Security Standard (Which is normally undertaken as part of the recruiting process)
Departmental / Company Records Check
Security Questionnaire
Criminal Record Check
Security Service Check
On completion of the vetting process, the information collected is assessed and a decision made to refuse or approve a CTC clearance.
Employment Checks
Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS):
These are not formal security clearances; they are a package of pre-employment checks that represent good recruitment and employment practice. A BPSS aims to provide an appropriate level of assurance as to the trustworthiness, integrity, and probable reliability of prospective employees and should be applied to:
All successful applicants for employment in the public sector and Armed Forces (both permanent and temporary)
All private sector employees working on government contracts (e.g. contractors and consultants), who require access to, or knowledge of, government assets protectively marked up to and including CONFIDENTIAL.
To search for vacancies with security clearance or to register your CV on a database of cleared candidates please visit
www.SecurityClearedJobs.com.
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or My Nuclear Jobs
MyNuclearJobs.com is part of the SecurityClearedJobs.com Group. We are a UK job board designed for individuals working across many industry sectors. Due to our experience of recruitment in the Security Clearance sector, we believe we are ideally placed to assist candidates in securing their next career opportunity within the nuclear sector.
The Nuclear Industry
Nuclear power is needed to help meet two energy challenges, to provide a secure and affordable supply of energy at a time of global instability and also to tackle the ever increasing issues of climate change.
Nuclear Power stations currently provide approximately 19% of the UK’s electricity, but most of the country’s stations are due to come out of service within the next 15 years. Even with renewable energy programmes that are running, there is still a huge demand for Nuclear power and therefore the go ahead has been given to increase the number of reactors.
With the building of new plants and the decommissioning of old sites this will be a growth sector over the next decade. The sites currently in operation are Dounreay, Hunterston A, Sellafield, Calder Hall, Windscale, LLW Repository, Wylfa, Trawsfynydd, Capenhurst, Berkeley, Oldbury, Hinckley Point A, Winfrith, Harwell, Chapelcross, Springfields, Sizewell A, Bradwell, Dungeness A, Culham Science Centre.
Security Clearance within the nuclear industry
Due to severity of the threat that could come from a nuclear incident, all employees that work or contract within the power plants are security vetted to safeguard the industry. There are a number of industry organisations including BNFL, The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), The Nuclear Industry Association and The World Nuclear Association.
The Office for Civil Nuclear Security (OCNS) carries out the security checks, which are similar to those carried out by the MOD and are usually either:
DV - Developed Vetting
SC - Security Check
CTC - Counter Terrorist Check
BPSS - Baseline Personnel Security Standard
Over the coming years, recruitment within this sector will increase dramatically to accommodate the growth within the industry and the need for Security Cleared candidates will naturally increase.
Jobs that display a security clearance level will require the applicant to have the security level stated or be willing to undergo a security clearance.
