SC MOD-DVA

[BigJohnE]

MOD-DVA
"Thank you for your e-mail addressed to CE DVA. I have been asked to reply. As you have indicated in your e-mail this is an ongoing issue, and the DVA is actively trying to discourage such advertisements being placed. The DVA, in consultation with the Cabinet Office, are actively seeking ways to ensure that adverts placed are not discriminatory. In cases where the adverts are brought to the attention of the DVA we will contact the Employment Agency concerned, and point out that the wording they are using is unsuitable. Indeed, following your e-mail I have contacted the agency, Progressive Computer Equipment, and explained the situation. The company has stated that it will review the wording it uses, and amend it to reflect the fact that possession of a security clearance is not a pre-requisite when applying for vacancies.
I hope that this is helpful.

Alex Peel
Defence Vetting Agency
Customer Relations Account Manager
01904-662510"

Please do not forget to report the following agents to the MOD.

Those that breach the guidelines advertising of contracts with the pre-requisition of SC.
Agents that do not put candidates forward who do not have SC.

The more of you that report these breaches will eventually result in agents being stuck off the MOD supplier list or some other action taken against them.

[malvolio]

Very true and quite welcome.

Only snag is, the DVA have been doing this for about three years now (prompted by a much earlier complaint raised by some people I know) and are quite sincere in their efforts. Unfortunately, until the Security Committee in the Cabinet Office gets off its collective ar*e and gets the regulations enforced (don't hold your breath - it hasn't even made the agenda for the last two years to my certain knowledge), this will continue for a long while yet!

Secondly, for shorter term roles, you can bet it will continue anyway on the basis that "it's not worth spending £1000 to get clearance for someone who can't start immediately".

The only really good news is that once you have clearance, which lapses after 1-2 years, getting it back again for a subsequent role is a matter of a week or two, which shouldn't put anyone off. You used to have to go through the whole loop all over again.

[WageSlave1]

it back again for a subsequent role is a matter of a week or two

My renewal took much longer than the original clearance. And it was through the same sponsoring department!

[malvolio]

Ah, yes - I've had the same experience.

The renewal process is actually quite quick. Snag is, you usually get some no-hoper low grade clerical twonk looking after the submission of the request - and they can easily lose a week or two at each stage. I was running on a visitor pass for three weeks (which meant things like needing an escort to the canteen, no car parking permit and no internet access) while the approval sat on the LSO's desk until they got around to sending it across to the line management...