Recruiting employees and apprentices

Colleagues must use the Preferred Supplier List to recruit and engage workers. The list includes 14 selected suppliers offering the best standardised rates and all suppliers have access to our referencing requirements, safeguarding pre-engagements checks, and the Barnardo’s Welcome Pack.  

Please use the Preferred Suppliers List as it will help to make considerable savings in recruitment costs while ensuring that all recruitment is conducted through vetted suppliers in accordance with our Supplier Code of Conduct. The list will be continuously reviewed to ensure it remains suitable for our evolving needs.  

The procurement team are available to support recruiting managers with any queries you may have on the list and the service provided by the preferred suppliers. They will also support you to fill any gaps in exceptional circumstances where you may need to procure outside the list. You can access support by raising a ticket on the Business Services Hub.

Interested in hiring an apprentice? Read our guidance for managers on recruiting apprentices to new positions.

Information and tools for recruiters:

• Interview guidance, questions and forms
• Assessing potential safeguarding risk
• Criminal records disclosure checks
• Checking the right to work in the UK
• Contingent worker recruitment – guidance and forms for recruiting contractors, agency and casual workers.
• Recruiting an apprentice
• Recruitment and selection procedure
• Preferred Supplier List

Our standards to make sure we have safe, fair and effective recruitment and selection procedures:

• Recruitment and selection policy statement
• Getting references policy
• Recruitment of ex-offenders policy
• Criminal records disclosure policy (Northern Ireland)
• Criminal records disclosure policy (Scotland)
• Criminal records disclosure policy (England and Wales)