Private Staff Background Checks for peace of mind

Hiring a Private Chef and Household staff with confidence

When it comes to placing private chefs and household staff, we prioritise safety and thoroughness above all else. We understand the importance of background checks as a preventative measure. To achieve this, every candidate we place to a private home undergoes a detailed screening process that includes DBS checks and other essential verifications. This thorough process is at the heart of our commitment to providing safe and reliable private staff for luxury homes and has helped to build Gourmet Recruitments reputation as the premier supplier of private chefs and household staff.

Government DBS Checks and Certification

Before any candidate joins a household, we conduct a Government Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS) and certification. This check shows if an individual has any criminal record which will show details of all spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings held on central police records. This ensures individuals have a clean record with no history of criminal activity that could pose a risk to the household or its members. It’s a vital aspect of our screening policy, allowing us to maintain the highest standards of safety and security.

Residency Criteria for CRB Checks

Candidates who have been UK residents for more than six months are subject to Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks. This additional layer of screening helps us gain insight into a candidate’s background and potential risks. We leave no stone unturned when it comes to safeguarding our clients’ interests.

But, if the applicant is, or has been, living overseas, then the process is a bit more involved than that for a UK-based resident. For candidates who haven’t been UK residents for the required six months, we take extra measures to ensure their suitability. In such cases, we conduct police checks in their home country, whenever feasible. This international screening is part of our commitment to thoroughness, even for candidates with a shorter UK residency.

DBS Disclosure Timeframe

DBS checks usually take 14 days however st’s important to note that the DBS disclosure process can take up to 12 weeks to complete. Reference checking and police checks can be the slowest parts of our process to complete.

Further Background Checks

Gourmet Recruitment also make it compulsory to gather verbal references and speak with past employers before placing our candidates. This step helps us gain insights into a candidate’s work ethic, skills, and character, ensuring that we place only the most qualified and trustworthy individuals to our clients. Before placing any candidate we seek a minimum of two work references and usually look to check the past 5 years of any chef or household staff member.