01
Select the checks
Choose the right checks for the role, country, and school requirements.
Do you really know who you hire?
Safeguarding starts before someone walks through the school gates. Avvanz finds that more than 1 in 3 resumes contain some form of discrepancy, highlighting why a resume alone is not enough.
For schools that recruit internationally, the challenge is bigger: one candidate, many countries, many record sources.
Based on ITFCP recommendations and Avvanz's best practices
The depth of screening should reflect the nature of the role, including whether it involves direct, unsupervised contact with students.
| Checks | Description | Teaching Staff | Support Staff/Contractors | Management |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Global Watchlist & Sanctions | Screens global sanctions, watchlists, PEPs, terrorism, corruption and financial-risk databases. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Adverse Media Check | Identifies potential reputational risks through millions of global news and media sources. | ✓ | — | ✓ |
| Social Media Screening | Identifies potential safeguarding, conduct and reputational risks in publicly available online profiles. | ✓ | — | ✓ |
| Criminal Records Check | Verifies relevant criminal records through court and police sources. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Conflict of Interest / Directorship | Identifies current and past directorships and potential disqualifications. | — | — | ✓ |
| Sex Offender Registry | Checks for records related to sexual offences to strengthen safeguarding. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bankruptcy Check | Identifies bankruptcy, insolvency or bankruptcy petitions. | — | — | ✓ |
| Education Verification | Verifies qualifications, institution, attendance and graduation details. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Employment Verification | Verifies employment history, roles, dates, responsibilities and rehire eligibility. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Identity Verification | Validates passports, digital IDs and identity documents against trusted sources. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Legend:
✓ Required
– Not Necessary
How background checks work
Six simple steps from choosing your checks to making an informed hiring decision.
02
Invite the candidate
Send the candidate a secure screening request through the platform.
03
Collect candidate information
The candidate provides information, documents, and consent for screening.
04
Conduct the checks
Avvanz reviews information and verifies the candidate’s background through the selected checks.
05
Review the results
Review completed check results on the ScreenGlobal platform.
06
Discuss and decide
Use the final report to inform candidate discussions and support safer decisions.
One platform for global screening
150+countries
20+types of checks
1–10 daystypical turnaround, depending on the check and country
ScreenGlobal shows the source, scope, turnaround time, and price of each check before you order. It supports online information, document collection, central screening management, and security and privacy controls, so your HR and safeguarding teams can work from a single record.
Why work with a background screening partner?
Navigate complex requirements
Get support with country-specific screening requirements and compliance frameworks.
Reduce HR administration
Free your team to focus on other recruitment and staffing priorities.
Access specialist expertise and technology
Use advanced screening tools and specialist knowledge for checks such as AI-assisted social media screening.
Improve the candidate experience
Create a clear, straightforward screening journey that leaves a positive impression.
Keep recruitment moving
Reduce screening delays and the risk of losing strong candidates.
Safer Recruitment Through Thorough Background Checks webinar
Safeguarding International Students Conference – Hosted by SACPA
Watch the webinarCommon questions
Which background checks do schools need?
It depends on the role, the country and local law. Core checks usually include criminal record and sex offenders registry checks (where available), plus employment and education verification and sanctions screening, scaled to how much contact the person has with children.
Do volunteers, vendors and contractors need checks?
Safer recruitment practice covers anyone who may have contact with children. The checks can be lighter for people who are always supervised and fuller for those who may be left alone with children.
How long do international checks take?
Typical turnaround is 1-10 days, depending on the check and the country.
Are the checks compliant with data privacy laws?
Avvanz carries out screening in line with applicable data privacy laws, and candidates submit their information securely online.
Talk to a screening expert
Tell us about your school and the countries you recruit from. We will show you how ScreenGlobal fits your safer recruitment process.
Or write to consult@avvanz.com.