As recipients of the REC Audited Education, and as a recruiter that’s committed to high safeguarding standards, we set the bar high when it comes to compliance.
We know from experience that this offers peace of mind to both our clients and candidates.
Below we’ve highlighted how our process works, but if you want to discuss our vetting procedures or have a query regarding your compliance, just give us a call on 01277 245840 or email education@athona.com.
When you’re registering with Athona Education, we will have an initial discussion and run through the compliance documents we require. You’ll then be invited to meet with your consultant either face-to-face at our office or via a video call.
Alongside filling in any outstanding registration forms, you will also sign our terms and conditions and we’ll ensure you have obtained a copy of our handbook.
Which compliance documents are needed?
In line with REC Audited Education and the Department for Education’s ‘Keeping children safe in education’, Athona Education will check the following:
- Right to Work documentation (passport, birth certificate, EU pre settled/Settlement code, biometric card share code)
We follow the three-step process set out in the ‘Home Office Guidance: An employer’s guide to right to work’ checks:
- Photo identification (passport, drivers licence, ID card)
- Proof of address, using the DBS list of approved documents
- An enhanced child only workforce DBS certificate
- Proof of National Insurance Number
- Qualifications (translated and checked by ENIC if necessary)
- Overseas police check (if you have lived or worked abroad for six months or more over the last five years)
- At least two references, covering the last two years.
Audited by the REC
Athona Education is accredited as gold standard by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), first receiving this accolade in 2015. Since then we have continued to uphold the exceptional standards needed to retain this accreditation.
We fully abide by the REC’s Code of Professional Practice which provides a framework of principles and support that reflect our companies’ values of honesty and integrity. You can view the code in full by clicking here.
What does this mean?
The gold standard demonstrates Athona Education’s adherence to the highest possible standards in compliance. Furthermore, it shows that Athona Education exhibits ‘best practise in customer service, staff development, diversity and client management’ at all times.
This accreditation was achieved through external audits and is something we are incredibly proud to have received. The recognition identifies the quality work we do on a daily basis and we believe it is just one of the ways we stand out from our competitors.
What does this mean for you?
If you seek employment through us or we place teachers into your school or nursery, you can rest assured you are working with professionals acutely aware of all of the ever changing legal requirements in educational compliance.
Athona Recruitment’s REC Corporate Membership number is: 00052510
For more information, please click here.
Additional Vetting Procedures
Alongside requiring the documentation listed above, there are also a number of vetting procedures and checks we carry out at registration.
These include:
- Date of birth check – against a passport, national ID card or photo driving licence
- Where necessary, sighting marriage, civil partnership or divorce certificates as part of the identification check
- National Insurance number, against a NI card, P45/P60 or government letter
- CV check, with any gaps accounted for
- Enhanced child only workforce DBS certificate, conducted annually. Candidates on the DBS update service will have their DBS checked annually or more frequently if a client requires
- For candidates with QTS, we will check their registration with the teaching regulation agency (TRA) – both as part of the recruitment on boarding process and then on an annual basis
- Our medical questionnaire, completed as part of the online registration
- Confirmation that the ‘Keeping children safe in education: childcare disqualification requirement checks’ has been signed and read
- Our registration form, completing the ‘Rehabilitation of the Offenders Act Statement’
- Terms & Conditions signed by candidates, completed as part of your initial registration
To view our policies and procedures click here