Two versions of the recruitment policy are supplied, because not every employer carries out criminal background checks. The standard version covers fair recruitment and AI in recruitment; the second version adds background checks and the recruitment of ex-offenders for employers that screen.

Effective Policy Templates

This policy template is supplied in fully editable MS Word format and can be easily customised and edited. The document uses pre-defined style formatting throughout, with all text in Calibri font for improved readability.
The following document labelling is included in the footer:

• Policy number and title
• Information-classification
• Version
• Page number / total pages

alphaZ documents - beautifully designed, tried and tested policy templates. No junk, jargon or unnecessary content. Simple and usable policy templates developed over 25 years through practical use in the real world.

Further Reading

Further guidance on recruitment:

• Recruitment and Selection
• Right to Work Checks
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
• Personnel Records and Data Protection
• Managing Staff and Workers knowledge base

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Recruitment and Selection Policy Template

A public recruitment and selection policy setting out how your organisation attracts and selects applicants fairly and consistently, from the job description through to the offer and employment checks. It is written to be shared with applicants and staff.

What the Policy Covers

• Job descriptions, person specifications and advertising
• Application packs, shortlisting and interviews, with reasons and assessments recorded
• Adjustments for applicants at application and interview
• Making an offer, and employment checks including references, identity and right to work
• Use of AI in recruitment - sifting, scoring and question drafting always reviewed by a person, and no applicant rejected by an automated decision alone
• Recruitment records and personal data - how applicant information is held, for how long, and what applicants are told

Versions Available

• P-60 Recruitment and Selection Policy - for employers that do not carry out criminal background checks
• P-60 Recruitment and Selection Policy V2 - adds criminal background checks where a role requires and allows them, the recruitment of ex-offenders, and the handling of background check information

A policy that says background checks are carried out, held by a company that does not carry them out, works against the company, so choose the version that matches what you do. Neither version names a particular checking scheme, so both can be used anywhere in the UK.

Who Needs a Recruitment and Selection Policy?

Any employer that wants a consistent and fair recruitment process, and a document to show applicants, staff and customers how recruitment is carried out.

Works with the Recruitment Procedure and Screening Forms

The PP-1-11 Employee Recruitment Onboarding Leaving Policy Procedure sets out the recruitment process step by step. The F-HR17 Employee Screening Details and F-HR18 Employee Screening Checklist record the screening information and checks completed for each new employee.

Using the Policy

Choose the version that matches your recruitment practice, add your company details and approval, and check the yellow prompts. Make sure the records section agrees with the retention periods on your personal data register, and that the privacy notice given to applicants describes the same use of AI.

Getting the AI Wording Right

Recruitment is one of the places AI tools are most often used without anyone writing it down - CV sifting in an applicant tracking system, AI-drafted job adverts and interview questions, and automated scoring of online tests. The policy commits to a person reviewing that work and to no applicant being rejected by an automated decision alone, so check your recruitment software settings match what the policy says.

Related Documents

Other documents that work alongside this policy:

• PP-1-11 Employee Recruitment Onboarding Leaving Policy Procedure
• F-HR17 Employee Screening Details
• P-26 Privacy Policy