Pre-employment Checks

Eligibility to work in the UK

Successful applicants will be required to provide proof of their entitlement to work in the UK, or be able to provide sufficient information to the University to demonstrate that they will be able to get the required immigration status before commencing employment. Unless you are a British or Irish citizen, you will need a UK visa to be able to work in the UK.

If an offer of employment is made to you in a case where the post qualifies for a Skilled Worker visa, the University's Staff Immigration Team will issue a Certificate of Sponsorship and assist you with the visa application, and can also assist your dependants if they need UK visas.

Some roles involving research in sensitive subject areas require nationals of some countries to apply for security clearance under the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) as part of the Skilled Worker visa process. Advice on the ATAS process will be provided, if relevant.

The Staff Immigration Team provide information on the Skilled Worker visa route but not all posts qualify for this type of visa.

If an offer of employment is made to you but the post does not qualify for a Skilled Worker visa, you may be able to explore alternative visa routes that do not require a job offer/ sponsorship, details of which can be found on the Home Office’s website.

Identity

You will be required to provide:

• Proof of identity - in the form of a passport, birth certificate, or other acceptable document; and
• Proof of address - in the form of a recent utility bill or bank statement. Please contact the recruiting department offering you the post for advice on what to do if you have only recently moved or have not got established accommodation.

Qualifications

You will be required to provide proof of any qualifications required for this post - in the form of original certificates or transcripts. If you will need a Skilled Worker visa you must hold the qualification specified in the job description.

References

Offers of employment are made subject to receipt of satisfactory references (see How to Apply for further information about references).

Professional registration

For relevant posts your professional registration status will be validated. If professional registration was specified as an essential requirement in the job description you must have this, or be eligible to apply, if you will need a Skilled Worker visa.

Health and disability issues

The University is committed to promoting an inclusive working environment for all staff, including those with disabilities or long-term health conditions. We have an Occupational Health Service and a Staff Disability Advisor who can provide advice and support to employees and their departments on aids, adaptations and adjustments to working arrangements. Once a conditional job offer has been made, you will be sent a New Starter Health Declaration form.  This will allow you to tell us about any health conditions or disabilities that may impact on your capability to perform the proposed role so that appropriate advice and support can be sought.  If the job you are applying for has any hazard specific or safety-critical duties you will also be asked to complete a New Starter Health Questionnaire. The University’s Occupational Health Service will assess your responses to this to make sure that the duties of the post would not place you, or others around you, at risk in the workplace and to identify any workplace adjustments or assistance that may be required.

Criminal records checks

The University does not discriminate unfairly against applicants who might have a criminal history. Employment of individuals with a criminal record will depend on the nature of the position for which they have applied and the circumstances of their offences.

In order to protect certain vulnerable groups within society, there are a number of posts within the University that are exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 by virtue of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions) Order 1975.

For some posts, such as those involving ‘regulated activities’ with children and other vulnerable groups in the course of normal duties, a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be required. Where applicable, the appropriate ‘barring’ list of those who are prohibited from working with with vulnerable groups will also be checked. Any offer of employment for such posts will be conditional on a satisfactory disclosure certificate from the DBS. The job advertisement/job description will indicate if this is applicable to the post you are applying for.  If you have registered for the DBS Update Service, you may be able to provide an existing DBS disclosure. Please contact the recruiting department for further information.

The University of Oxford complies fully with the DBS Code of Practice. Disclosures are handled in the strictest of confidence and only by staff who have been designated and trained in handling such information.

Security screening

The University does not discriminate unlawfully against any applicant on the basis of information revealed by security screening. All appointments are made strictly in accordance with the University of Oxford Equality Policy and applications are welcomed from a wide range of candidates.

Appointment to certain posts within the University, for example those working in high-risk areas, or with hazardous materials, may be subject to additional background security checks, which is intended to protect the University’s staff and property. Any offer of employment to such posts will be conditional upon satisfactory background checks. The job advertisement/job description will indicate if this is applicable to the post you are applying for.

Disclosures are handled in the strictest of confidence and only by staff who have been designated and trained in handling such information.

Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) clearance is only required if you need to apply for a Skilled Worker visa, the role involves research in a sensitive area, and you are not exempt by nationality. Advice on the ATAS process will be provided, if relevant.