BPSS & Gap Verifications

BPSS screening

Learn how Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) screening works in CertnCentric, including how employment, education, self-employment, and gaps in an applicant's history may be verified.

What is BPSS?

BPSS stands for the Baseline Personnel Security Standard. It is a UK Government screening standard used for people working with or for UK government organisations, including civil servants, contractors, temporary staff, suppliers, members of the Armed Forces, and certain third parties.

BPSS is a baseline personnel security standard and is not the same as national security vetting clearance, such as Counter Terrorist Check (CTC), Security Check (SC), or Developed Vetting (DV).

How does BPSS history verification work?

As part of BPSS screening, an applicant's employment, academic history, and/or qualifications are verified where applicable for at least the previous three years.

Unlike a standalone employment or education verification, BPSS screening considers the applicant's history across the required period. This means gaps in confirmed employment or education may also need to be evidenced or explained.

Gaps of six months or more, whether continuous or cumulative within the relevant three-year period, should be evidenced or explained.

How is employment and education verified?

Certn verifies the applicant's employment and education history using appropriate verification sources based on the information and records available.

Where applicable, this may include verifying:

• Employment history
• Academic history
• Qualifications
• Self-employment
• Gaps within the required history

If an employment or education period cannot be verified, this may result in a gap in the applicant's confirmed history.

How is self-employment handled?

Self-employment must also be supported where it forms part of the relevant BPSS history.

Depending on the circumstances, Certn may use official records, supporting documentation, or an appropriate independent source. This may include confirmation from an accountant or another suitable professional or business reference provided by the applicant.

The information Certn can verify will depend on the records and appropriate verification sources available.

What is a gap?

A gap is a period within the required screening history that is not covered by confirmed employment or education information.

In CertnCentric, gaps are based on confirmed history. This means a gap may also be identified when an employment or education period provided by the applicant cannot be verified and the remaining confirmed history leaves part of the required period uncovered.

How are gaps handled?

How a gap is handled depends on the screening requirements and the information available.

Depending on the circumstances, Certn may support a gap using:

• A statement from the applicant
• Supporting documentation covering the gap period
• A suitable personal referee

Gap statements

A gap statement gives the applicant an opportunity to explain what they were doing during the identified period.

If a statement is required, Certn may contact the applicant to collect the necessary information.

Gap documentation

In some circumstances, Certn may ask the applicant to provide documentation supporting what they were doing during the gap.

Supporting documentation should cover the full duration of the gap period.

If sufficient information cannot be obtained to support the gap, it may be reported as Unable to Verify, with additional context provided in the report where available.

Gap references

A gap reference uses a personal referee who can help confirm the applicant's history during the relevant period.

For BPSS screening, the referee:

• Must be over 18
• Must not be related to or living with the applicant
• Must have known the applicant for at least three years

If a suitable referee has been provided, Certn may contact them directly to request the reference. If a suitable referee is not available, the applicant may instead be asked to provide documentation that supports the gap period.

What happens if additional information is required?

Certn may follow up with the applicant or referee when additional information is required to complete the screening.

Follow-up may include email or telephone contact, depending on the information required and the contact details available.

If the required information is not received after the applicable follow-up attempts, the gap may be completed as Unable to Verify, with additional context included in the report where available.

Frequently asked questions

How much history is reviewed for BPSS screening?

Employment, academic history, and/or qualifications are verified where applicable for at least the previous three years.

What happens if an employment or education period cannot be verified?

BPSS gaps are based on confirmed history. If an employment or education period cannot be verified and this leaves part of the required history uncovered, a gap may be identified.

Additional information may then be required to support or explain the gap.

Does BPSS screening include self-employment?

Yes. Where self-employment forms part of the relevant history, it must also be supported.

Depending on the circumstances, this may be done using official records, supporting documentation, or an appropriate independent source, such as an accountant or another suitable professional or business reference.

What types of information can be used to support a gap?

Depending on the circumstances, a gap may be supported by an applicant statement, documentation covering the relevant period, or an appropriate personal referee.

Who can act as a BPSS gap referee?

A BPSS gap referee must be over 18, must not be related to or living with the applicant, and must have known the applicant for at least three years.

What happens if a gap cannot be supported?

If Certn cannot obtain sufficient information after the applicable follow-up attempts, the gap may be reported as Unable to Verify. Additional context will be included in the report where available.