Glossary of Terms
A
Admin Delegation
The ability to assign different roles and responsibilities to system administrators within the application.
Approved Access Number
A unique identifier assigned to an individual who has been granted access following a successful screening and approval process.
B
BPSS
Baseline Personnel Security Standard – a pre-employment screening standard for government any individuals working with or on behalf of a government department in the UK.
C
Clearance Revalidation
A process to review and confirm a person’s continued suitability for a security clearance over time.
D
DBS
Disclosure and Barring Service – checks an individual’s criminal record to help employers make safer recruitment decisions.
E
E-result
An electronically issued result or certificate indicating the outcome of a screening check.
I
Identity Verification
The process of confirming a person is who they claim to be, typically via digital document and facial checks.
M
MFA
Multi-Factor Authentication – an added layer of login security requiring a secondary method of verification (e.g., phone, app).
P
PESA
Pre-Employment Screening Application – the original name for the system developed exclusively for the aerospace sector.
Personal Identifiable Information (PII)
Information that can be used to identify an individual, such as name, address, date of birth, or national insurance number.
Pre-employment Screening
The process of verifying a candidate’s background before they are hired, including identity, criminal records, and employment history.
R
Responsible Body/Organisation
The organisation or individual authorised to initiate screening checks on behalf of the applicant or employer.
Right to Work
Proof that a person is legally permitted to work in the United Kingdom, often established via passport or visa documents.
S
SC Cleared
Security Check (SC) is a UK government clearance level required for access to sensitive information.
Screening
A general term for the process of checking an individual’s background to assess suitability for employment or access.
Spent Convictions
Criminal convictions that have passed the rehabilitation period, and will not be declared in a basic DBS check.
U
Unspent Convictions
Criminal convictions that have not yet passed the rehabilitation period, and must be declared in a basic DBS check.