EdgeHarbour
Compliance Framework
Candidate Verification & Regulatory Compliance Standards
EdgeHarbour
Edge Harbour is a UK-based recruitment platform operating across healthcare, social care, education, and allied sectors. This Compliance Framework sets out the standards, processes, and obligations that govern how Edge Harbour verifies candidate identity, right to work, professional credentials, and suitability before facilitating any placement.
Compliance is not a box to tick before placement is collected. It is the foundation on which every hire is built. This document is intended to provide transparency to employers, candidates, regulators, and other stakeholders about how Edge Harbour fulfils its legal and ethical responsibilities.
Scope: This framework applies to all candidates registered on the Edge Harbour platform and all employers using Edge Harbour's staffing or candidate-search services in the United Kingdom.
Edge Harbour operates in accordance with the following legislation and frameworks:
| Legislation / Framework | Relevance |
|---|---|
| Immigration Act 2014 | Right to Work checks — employers have a statutory duty; Edge Harbour verifies on their behalf |
| UK GDPR & Data Protection Act 2018 | Lawful basis for processing candidate personal data; data minimisation; retention schedules |
| Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 | Governs disclosure requirements for DBS checks, particularly in regulated activity |
| Care Act 2014 | Safeguarding duties for placements involving vulnerable adults |
| Children Act 1989 & 2004 | Safeguarding duties for placements involving children |
| Conduct of Employment Agencies Regulations 2003 | Obligations on employment businesses when supplying workers |
| Agency Workers Regulations 2010 | Equal treatment rights for agency workers after 12 weeks |
| Modern Slavery Act 2015 | Transparency in supply chains; annual statement obligations |
All candidates must complete document verification before appearing as active on the platform. Documents are reviewed by trained Edge Harbour compliance officers and, where applicable, cross-referenced against issuing authority records.
| Document | Requirement | Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Government-issued Photo ID Passport, UK/EU driving licence, national ID card |
Mandatory | ✓ |
| Right to Work Proof Share Code, Passport (British/Irish), BRP, eVisa |
Mandatory | ✓ |
| National Insurance Number | Mandatory | ✓ |
| CV / Résumé Full employment history, verified against references |
Mandatory | ✓ |
| DBS Certificate Standard or Enhanced depending on role; Update Service subscription accepted |
Role-dependent | ✓ |
| Professional Qualifications NMC PIN, HCPC registration, QTS, SIA licence, etc. |
Sector-dependent | ✓ |
| Two Professional References From supervisors within the last 3 years; character references not accepted |
Mandatory | ✓ |
| Proof of Address Bank statement or utility bill dated within 3 months |
Mandatory | ✓ |
| Overseas Police Clearance Required where candidate has lived abroad for 12+ months in past 5 years |
Conditional | ✓ |
| Training Certificates Manual handling, safeguarding, infection control, moving & handling, etc. |
Preferred | ✓ |
| Sector | Additional Requirements | Regulatory Body |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare (Clinical) | NMC / HCPC registration; Occupational Health clearance; immunisation records; Enhanced DBS with barred-list check | NMC / HCPC / CQC |
| Social Care | Enhanced DBS with children's and/or adults' barred list; safeguarding training (Level 2+) | CQC / Ofsted |
| Education & SEN | QTS or relevant pedagogical qualification; Enhanced DBS; prohibition from teaching check (TRA) | DfE / TRA |
| Security | Valid SIA licence (Front Line or Non-Front Line depending on role); Enhanced DBS | SIA |
| Tech & Data | CV and skills verification; professional references; relevant certifications where applicable | N/A |
| Logistics & Transport | DVLA driving licence check; DVLA counterpart check; Standard DBS; HGV/LGV entitlements where applicable | DVLA / DVSA |
| Hospitality & Catering | Basic DBS; food hygiene certificate (Level 2+); allergen awareness training | FSA |
Every candidate follows a structured six-stage verification pathway before being marked as Verified on the platform.
Candidate creates an account, completes personal details, declares Right to Work status, and uploads all required documents via the secure Edge Harbour portal.
All uploaded documents are reviewed by a compliance officer within 24 business hours. Identity documents are cross-checked for tampering, expiry dates, and completeness.
UK Home Office online right to work service is used where applicable (Share Codes). For non-digital verification, original documents are reviewed against the prescribed list under the Immigration Act 2014.
DBS certificates are verified (including Update Service where active). Professional registrations are confirmed directly with the issuing body (NMC, HCPC, TRA, SIA, etc.).
Two professional references are contacted directly by the Edge Harbour team. Responses are documented and stored against the candidate record.
A senior compliance officer reviews the complete candidate file and approves or flags for further review. Upon sign-off the candidate profile is marked Verified and made visible to employers.
Turnaround target: Standard verification is completed within 24–48 business hours of all documents being received. Complex cases (overseas clearance, lapsed DBS) may take longer.
Edge Harbour processes candidate personal data under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. The lawful basis for processing compliance documents is legal obligation (Article 6(1)(c)) and, for special category data such as health information, employment law obligations (Article 9(2)(b)).
| Data Category | Retention Period | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Identity & RTW Documents | 2 years post-engagement end | Legal obligation |
| DBS Certificates | 6 months post-check (result recorded only) | ICO guidance |
| CV & Employment History | Duration of registration + 2 years | Legitimate interest |
| Reference Records | 2 years post-engagement end | Legal obligation |
| Health / Special Category | As required by sector regulator | Employment law |
Candidates may exercise their data rights (access, rectification, erasure, restriction, portability) by contacting compliance@edgeharbour.co.uk.
Verification is not a one-time event. Edge Harbour operates a continuous compliance monitoring programme:
| Check | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Right to Work (time-limited visas) | 30 days before expiry or upon renewal |
| DBS via Update Service | Annually (or upon employer request) |
| Professional Registration (NMC, HCPC, SIA, etc.) | Annually or at renewal date |
| Training Certificates (Manual Handling, Safeguarding, etc.) | Annually |
| Reference re-verification | Every 2 years or on role change |
Candidates are notified by email and in-app alert at least 30 days before any credential expires. Failure to renew will result in the candidate profile being paused until the requirement is resolved.
While Edge Harbour undertakes comprehensive pre-placement checks, employers retain the following statutory obligations:
Employer responsibility: Edge Harbour's verification reduces risk but does not transfer the employer's statutory duty of care. Employers must satisfy themselves that placements are appropriate for their specific regulated environment.
Edge Harbour maintains detailed compliance audit trails for every candidate. Employers may request a compliance summary for any placed candidate. In the event of a safeguarding concern, the following escalation process applies:
Employer or candidate notifies Edge Harbour via compliance@edgeharbour.co.uk or +44 7474 809829 within 24 hours of the incident.
Edge Harbour immediately suspends the candidate profile pending investigation.
Edge Harbour's compliance team investigates and, where required, makes referrals to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) or the relevant regulatory body.
Outcome is documented and retained for the required period. All parties are notified of the outcome as appropriate.
| Query Type | Contact |
|---|---|
| General Compliance Queries | compliance@edgeharbour.co.uk |
| Candidate Verification Status | admin@edgeharbour.co.uk |
| Employer Compliance Support | recruitment@edgeharbour.co.uk |
| Data Subject Requests | compliance@edgeharbour.co.uk |
| Urgent Safeguarding Concerns | +44 7474 809829 (office hours) compliance@edgeharbour.co.uk (out of hours) |
| Registered Address | 5, Brayford Square, London, England, E1 0SG |