Eligibility Education and Right to Work Criteria Key Matters

Eligibility Criteria Key Matters - Evidence Uploader

Key matters to consider when presenting evidence in relation to the PSNI Eligibility Criteria are detailed below:

(A) Education Evidence:

Frequently seen issue / scenario	Suggested Resolution
The following evidence (only) presented: • Unclear / incomplete / blurred examination certificates / evidence presented • Unverifiable school reports, ‘results day’ slips or provisional results presented • -OR- Original certificate is lost	Candidate to contact relevant exam board immediately (e.g. CCEA, AQA, City & Guilds, Pearson Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, SQA, OCN, State Examinations Commission etc. ) and acquire 'Certified Statement of Results'. (School reports, ‘results’ slips’ and other similar evidence can be presented, but it must be verifiable).
Education equivalency not proven E.g. Qualifications presented sit below GCSE (A*-C) standard.	Candidate to research how equivalency can be proven. It is suggested that Candidate starts by visiting: • http://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels • http://www.qaa.ac.uk/docs/qaa/quality-code/qualifications-can-cross-boundaries.pdf?sfvrsn=a852f981 12 It is also recommended that the Candidate acquires written evidence from the relevant education / awarding body / school to prove the qualification is equivalent. Written evidence must be verifiable by Deloitte and provided on verifying organisation's headed paper or via organisation's email system.
Candidate is just short of being able to prove equivalency or there is a gap in their academic record that cannot be recorded.	Candidate to investigate options that may allow them to achieve equivalency immediately. E.g., Some local Further Education Colleges offer fast-track Level 2 courses such as Essential Skills Literacy / Communication, or Level 2 Essential Skills ICT. These could be completed to make up any gap.
Non-UK / Ireland certificates presented, with no supporting evidence from ENIC.	Candidate to contact UK ENIC in order to acquire 'Statement of Comparability' with (if necessary) Translation Waiver Service: http://www.enic.org.uk/Qualifications/SOC/Default.aspx. Please take action immediately to resolve the matter as the process can take several weeks.
Name on certificates does not match the current name of applicant used on application.	Candidate to provide evidence to clarify, such as Marriage Certificate or Civil Partnership Certificate or Change of Name Deed Poll Certificate etc. (Other formal evidence to clarify such matters considered case-by-case).
Candidate has presented evidence that shows they have more than the equivalent of 5 GCSEs, but there is no evidence of them having an English Language qualification.	Evidence of having standalone English Language qualifications / modules is required, regardless of having any higher or alternative qualifications. Candidate to investigate if they do have a qualification that can be considered. It is worth noting that some higher qualifications, at times, do have module elements that can be considered equivalent. Please check in case you have a module in Literacy or Communication or similar (at RQF Level 2 or higher) listed on your award transcript.
TOO MUCH evidence supplied. E.g. Candidate has submitted ALL the qualifications they have.	If you have GCSEs / equivalent and also have higher qualifications, we ONLY need to see evidence of the GCSEs in order to assess eligibility. The process is not intended as an opportunity to log evidence of all your qualifications with PSNI. It will serve no purpose to submit evidence over and above that which shows you meet the minimum criteria. Keep evidence uploaded to the minimum, or processing of your application may be delayed.

(B) Right To Work:

Frequently seen issue / scenario	Suggested Resolution
The following evidence (only) presented: • Unclear / incomplete / blurred examination certificates / evidence presented • Unverifiable evidence	Candidate to upload clear / complete evidence.
Candidate is presenting a British / Irish passport that has passed its expiry date.	This is fine – Do not worry! Out of data passports can be considered. A passport (current or expired) showing the holder is a British or Irish citizen will be accepted. We just need to see evidence of the ‘photo page’. We strongly encourage you to keep things simple and, if you have a British or Irish passport, you provide us with evidence of it only, as this is likely to be the most straightforward means to prove your Right to Work in the UK.
Candidate has dual / multiple citizenship.	Simply select one qualifying passport and upload evidence of it. (Details of your citizenship will not be recorded during this exercise, only whether or not you have the Right to Work in the UK).
Original British / Irish Passport is lost.	For candidates who are British or Irish citizens, you may find that you will be able to acquire your long-form birth certificate quickly. Candidate to contact relevant authority immediately – check the following for more details: NI Direct / Gov.ie British / Irish citizens can submit their long-form birth certificate + evidence of their UK National Insurance number.
Candidate is presenting a birth or adoption certificate but cannot find their UK National Insurance Number Card.	For British or Irish citizens with no passport; a full birth or adoption certificate issued in the UK or Ireland, together with an official document giving the person’s permanent UK National Insurance number and their name issued by a government agency or a previous employer can be accepted. A P45, a P60, paperwork from the Jobs and Benefits office / HMRC, a payslip, your plastic National Insurance Card can all be considered in reference to the National Insurance number.
Previously uploaded file has disappeared from the Evidence Uploader.	As part of the Evidence Uploader process, downloading of files occurs regularly. Although this may seem as though the file has disappeared or has been deleted, it simply indicates that the file has been downloaded. Do not duplicate an upload.
Non-UK / Ireland Citizen unclear as to how to prove their Right to Work.	For international applicants there are range of means to prove your Right to Work in the UK. In the first instance please consider all of the guidance supplied and upload evidence you believe to satisfy requirements. If however, you require advice, please get in touch with us and we will endeavour to advise you.
Name on evidence does not match the current name of applicant used on application.	Candidate to provide evidence to clarify, such as Marriage Certificate or Civil Partnership Certificate or Change of Name Deed Poll Certificate etc. (Other formal evidence to clarify such matters considered case-by-case).
TOO MUCH evidence supplied e.g. Candidate has uploaded ALL their identity documents.	It will serve no purpose to submit evidence over and above that which shows you meet the minimum criteria. Keep evidence uploaded to the minimum, or processing of your application may be delayed. In most cases, a simply one-page copy of your passport 'photo-page' is all that we require.
Candidate is unclear what evidence is required in relation to their complex case or does not have identity documents at hand.	Candidates must engage with the process and upload some evidence to be considered, or your application may be rejected. For applicants with complex cases or no evidence, please get in touch by email (before the deadline) and we will do our best to advise you. Please note however, that we cannot provide intensive individual support and the PSNI cannot sponsor applicants for employment to the role currently on offer. As we have provided forewarning of this Right to Work check before Assessment Centre stage, requests to extend the Right to Work check deadline or to offer exemptions will not be considered. We strongly encourage all applicants to be self-sufficient and only contact us if guidance provided does not provide answers.

Key Matters to consider:

Applicants to the Police Service of Northern Ireland are required to have a minimum or 5 GCSE (or equivalent) at A*-C, including English Language if you do not have GCSE equivalents can be considered.

As part of the recruitment process, applicants who pass the Initial Selection Test (IST) will be required to provide evidence of how they meet this educational eligibility criteria via an online Evidence Uploader. We will communicate exact instructions on that process in advance. Please check your email inbox (including "junk folders") for instructions.

Please make sure that you prepare now and have your paperwork in order so that you can demonstrate eligibility. It is important that your provide the necessary evidence during the window of opportunity. Be aware that opportunities to resolve any issues will be limited and strictly time-bound. We encourage all applicants to be self sufficient when preparing and presenting evidence. After IST results are issued, we will not be in a position to engage in email exchanges discussing the acceptability of the qualifications / evidence you intend to present (email support on education available during the Evidence Uploader phase will be focused only on technical issues that candidates might encounter with the system - we appreciate your understanding).

Above all, it is important that you engage with the process and upload some evidence to be considered, or your application may be rejected.

You should be aware that we encourage applicants to present final certificates or final certifying statements of results as evidence, as this is usually the most straightforward means to be deemed eligible. School reports, "results-day" information slips or provisional statements of results and other similar documentation may be presented, however if using this form evidence the processing of your application may be delayed while verification is completed.

Those applicants with straightforward GCSE A*-C grades in five subjects including English Language or equivalent, and with certificates or final certifying statements of results to prove this, should have no problems proving eligibility. (N.B. the name of the evidence must match the name featured on the PSNI application).

We realise that some applicants may find it more difficult to prove that they meet the educational criteria than others. Please note that qualifications achieved at Level 2 or higher (on the Regulated Qualifications Framework) may enable you to prove equivalency - check here for guidance on qualification levels.

We know that certain cases may not be quite so straightforward: therefore, we have developed this document and guidance on our website to provide additional support to help you to determine the comparability of your qualifications and to highlight issues / scenarios we frequently encounter.

Please see the table above for preliminary advice relating to these frequently seen matters.

Please remember to upload your educational qualifications (to meet the criteria) within the assigned Uploader stage - when campaign is live. Further details will be communicated.

Whilst during that period, we will be unable to confirm specifically on the acceptability of what you have uploaded or discuss the matter, it is very important that you take action during that window of opportunity to upload some evidence to prove your eligibility.

(Failure to co-operate in the process of presenting acceptable evidence in relation to your educational qualifications may lead to your application to the PSNI being discontinued).

If, having considered all the advise on the website you are still not sure how to demonstrate that your education qualifications are equivalent to the requirements, please engage with the Evidence Uploader process regardless, we will do our best to advise you and address any outstanding issues during the follow up phase.

Please note candidates who are successful at the IST stage of the process, must in addition to providing the above Education evidence, must also provide evidence of the Right to Work Criteria before they can progress to the next stage. Right to Work Criteria and FAQS.

Thanks for your co-operation.

Recruitment Team - Deloitte MCS Ltd.