What reference checks do NHS framework agencies need?
Framework audits sample worker files. Each one needs references that cover the right period, with dated proof of how you got them.
NHS framework agencies are expected to vet workers to the NHS Employment Check Standards. The employment history and reference checks standard asks for references that confirm at least three consecutive years of employment or training, with any gaps explained. Framework auditors sample worker files, so each reference needs dated evidence. RefAssure collects the references, chases referees and files a signed PDF audit trail.
Where do the framework rules come from?
Agencies that supply temporary staff to the NHS usually do so through national or regional framework agreements. To get on a framework, and to stay on it, a supplier agrees to vet its workers to the NHS Employment Check Standards, published by NHS Employers.
There are six standards: identity checks, right to work checks, professional registration and qualification checks, employment history and reference checks, work health assessments, and criminal record and barring checks. Framework audits test worker files against them, and a supplier that keeps failing can be suspended or removed.
The trust that uses the worker keeps overall responsibility for safe staffing. That is why trusts and framework managers want proof from you, not a promise.
What the reference standard asks for
- References that confirm at least three consecutive years of employment or training before the application.
- Gaps in that period explained and explored.
- For someone moving from another NHS organisation, at least a reference from their current or most recent NHS employer.
- Board level appointments follow a longer, separate route.
The standard does not fix a minimum number of references. The number depends on how many jobs or courses the three years covers. Many trusts and frameworks set their own minimum, often two, so check your framework terms. NHS Employers revises the standards from time to time, so always work from the current version on their site.
What an auditor looks for in a reference file.
Picture an auditor opening one worker file at random. These are the questions the reference section needs to answer.
The full period is covered
References line up with the employment history and reach back at least three years, with gaps accounted for.
The referee is genuine
A work email address, a job title and a clear link to the candidate, not a friend with a personal inbox.
It was done before placement
Timestamps show the reference came back before the first shift, not weeks later.
Consent and signatures
The candidate agreed to the check, and the referee signed what they wrote.
Evidence an auditor can actually read.
Every completed reference becomes a signed PDF with the questions, answers and a timeline of each step.
- Candidate consent with signature, collected online before any referee is contacted
- Request, reminder and completion times recorded automatically
- Your own questions: add what your framework expects to your template once
- Unlimited team members working from shared credits
References back before the shift starts.
5 emails and up to 2 texts over 12 days, stopping the moment the referee replies. Across 229 completed references, half came back within 24 hours.
NHS framework reference questions
More in the full FAQs.
How many references do NHS framework agencies need?
The NHS Employment Check Standards ask for references that confirm at least three consecutive years of employment or training, rather than a fixed number. Many frameworks and trusts set a minimum of their own, so check your framework terms. See our guide to NHS reference requirements.
What happens if we fail a framework audit?
The outcome depends on the framework and the findings. Suppliers are usually asked to fix gaps, and repeated or serious failures can lead to suspension or removal, with trusts told. Clear, dated evidence on every file is the simplest protection.
Does RefAssure do the other employment checks?
No. RefAssure handles the employment history and references part. Identity, right to work, registration, occupational health and DBS checks are done through the official routes. See our guides to NHS pre-employment checks and right to work checks.
Are there built-in NHS templates?
No. You start from one of five starter templates or upload your own reference form as a PDF or Word file. Add the questions your framework expects to your template once and reuse it for every worker.
What if a referee never replies?
RefAssure sends 5 emails and up to 2 texts over 12 days. If there is still no answer after day 12 you are told, so you can add another referee and keep the file moving.
How much does it cost per reference?
Your first reference is free. After that credits cost from 99p down to 80p each, with no monthly fee and no VAT added. See pricing.
Related guides
Audit-ready references for every framework worker.
Your first reference is free. Send it in two minutes and RefAssure does the chasing.