Senior Civil Service recruitment: candidate guide

Pre-employment checks

Before you can begin employment with the Scottish Government you will need to complete a series of pre-employment checks and you will be required to provide some documentation at this stage. 

Pre-employment checks confirm your identity, right to live and work in the UK, qualifications, work history and criminal convictions.

Candidates will be advised of the outcome of the pre-employment checks process and advised of next steps.

Disclosure Scotland check

Candidates applying for roles with the Scottish Government are required to provide a valid disclosure certificate, this is provided by a third-party organisation called Disclosure Scotland.

From 1 October 2024, the cost for this service will be covered by the Scottish government (where applicable) for candidates who will be directly employed by the Scottish Government upon completion. This includes all permanent and fixed-term contract staff, but not contractors.

Security check

A Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) check will also be carried out as standard for all Scottish Government posts. Additional security checks may also be required if a higher level of clearance is required for the job applied for.

Additional vetting

Senior Civil Servants may need an additional level of vetting, depending on the requirements of the role. Only the minimum level required to carry out the post will be granted, and vetting is not available on a speculative basis.

The need for vetting is assessed against the requirements of each particular post, and will be outlined in the job description. Read more information on the different levels of security and vetting checks.