We employ a number of staff who are either new to the country or who have not worked for a number of years (for example a lady who has been at home raising the children). Most of the vacancies that we recruit for are manual school workers - cleaners, dinner ladies, caretakers etc.

When we recruit, we ask for 2 referees that we can contact and obtain references. At the moment if we cannot get 2 work referees we ask for 1 character referee instead. The problem with this is that they just get their friends to send one. The workers that are new to the country cannot provide us with foreign referees.

We are currently trying to tighten up our processes. The way we work with references at the moment is pointless in my opinion and with all the stories i.e. Ian Huntley we are wary that some minimum critical risk assessment needs to be in place. Therefore I am interested to know how other companies operate with regards to employee references and checks in these situations?

Thanks

Kate