Yet another SC question.

[b0redom]

Hi All,
Hoping someone can shed a bit of light on this situation. I currently have SC clearance, and have held it for a number of years. I left ClientCo A (which held my clearance) and moved to ClientCo B where I did a 4 month contract.

I've since left ClientCo B, and asked for details about my clearance. Their response was:

"Your SC clearance is still held by ClientCo A.

As you were a short term contractor your clearance was confirmed but not transferred."

Does this mean that the one year use it or lose it clock started from my last day at ClientCo B or ClientCo A?

The work at ClientCo B required SC clearance.

Regards...

b0redom

[malvolio]

It will probably die one year after you left the first one. However, you were under active monitoring at the second site, so have a word with Client A's SSO (or whoever the equivalent is) and see if they'll extend it or pass it over to your later client.

[b0redom]

Gah! Looks like a short 6 monther then a move back into an SC role to preserve my clearance then.

[BolshieBastard]

Security Clearance is a ******* joke how its 'awarded' and 'administered.'

I've previously had SC but it has lapsed. I know I would have no trouble being cleared once again. About a year ago I applied for a role that included SC and when I spoke to the agent, they said they wouldnt consider me as it wasnt current.

I pointed out to them that the Vetting Agency had issued instructions that not having clearance should not be a bar from applying and being considered. The agent then said it was an urgent requirement so only people with current clearance could be considered. I pointed out that this was stated nowhere in the jobserve ad nor in anything the agent had said to be up to this point. If it was an urgent requirement I'd have thought this would be made clear in the advert and would be one of the first questions he asked me but didnt.

Needless to say he couldnt answer that one.

So I contacted CUK and pointed out how agents were circumventing the VA's directive ie by claiming the client needed an SC resource immediately. It lead to an article on the main site and, CUK kindly followed this one up for me but ultimately drew a blank.

The point is, contractors with SC are happy with the status quo since it means the gene pool isnt expanding thereby keeping the number of competing contractors chasing SC roles relatively small.

Agents use the 'immediate' requirement ploy to get around the VA's directive ie all suitable contractors should be readily considered, even when a role isnt due to start for a number of weeks.

Clients dont generally give a toss as they just want a bum on a seat. The VA meanwhile has no teeth to enforce its laughingly called directive to Government depts and agencies.

In short, its a closed shop \ cartel which is supposed to be illegal. Something really should be done about ending this farce once and for all. A start would be that SC at all but the higher levels should be terminated once a job is left rather than remaining in force for 12 months.

If this was to happen, more contractors would be able to take up these roles.

[Lovage]

(long time lurker).

Just had a very similar experience to Bolshie. Agent accidentally sent me all the tender information so I though I would just phone the government official in charge of the tenders directly.

She told me that they needed people immediately and I would not be considered as they needed DV clearance and I only had SC clearance. Its not mentioned in the Agent advert or the actual tender.

The thing that really gets my goat is that the gig is for a very long duration. Seems like a very closed shop.

(not wishing to hijack the thread) As this was from the government official themselves can I speak to the VA about this?

I'm about to send my details and CV anyway and highlight I could work supervised if necessary (thought it would be worth a punt).

Seems like you're wasting your time with these DV roles unless you get extremely lucky.

[BolshieBastard]

(long time lurker).

Just had a very similar experience to Bolshie. Agent accidentally sent me all the tender information so I though I would just phone the government official in charge of the tenders directly.

She told me that they needed people immediately and I would not be considered as they needed DV clearance and I only had SC clearance. Its not mentioned in the Agent advert or the actual tender.

The thing that really gets my goat is that the gig is for a very long duration. Seems like a very closed shop.

(not wishing to hijack the thread) As this was from the government official themselves can I speak to the VA about this?

I'm about to send my details and CV anyway and highlight I could work supervised if necessary (thought it would be worth a punt).

Seems like you're wasting your time with these DV roles unless you get extremely lucky.

Yes, you can contact the VA. But, they'll tell you they are powerless to help as its down to individual departments. They can give 'instruction' how departments should handle these situations but they cannot make them change their way.

Its ludicrous.

[Lovage]

Well I sent the CV off with a bit in the email about how it goes against the VA guidelines. Probably black listed now but I thought it was worth a go .

Will let you know if I hear anything but I wouldn't hold my breath.

[Growernotashower]

going back to the original point, you need to speak to all three orgs involved. You can make DVA aware, they will say that they need it from the security officer of the org though, you then need to speak to the sec officer of Org B and ask them, even though it was not transfered, can they advise DVA that you were working on a secure site and of the dates of the contract, then to make sure all runs smoothly you need to ask Org A to advise DVA that your contract ending with them. dates should all tally and the 12 month clock should start from the end of the contract with client B.

However, be aware now of the 5 year rule that some departments are implementing, even if your clearance is valid for 10 years you need to get it renewed every 5.

[RichardCranium]

the Vetting Agency had issued instructions that not having clearance should not be a bar from applying and being considered.

I think that was issued by the Cabinet Office on behalf of the Treasury. It actually said "... when there is no pressing urgency" or words to that effect.

The agent then said it was an urgent requirement so only people with current clearance could be considered.

That's what the instruction said.

i.e. all suitable contractors should be readily considered, even when a role isn't due to start for a number of weeks.

That is not how agency recruitment works. They only need to find 2 or 3 good candidates, put them forward and then they move on to filling the next role. Having found their 2 or 3, they will not even look at anyone else.

Clients dont generally give a toss as they just want a bum on a seat.

That has not been my experience: they are very keen not to have to escort someone everywhere for 6 to 12 weeks only to have the bugger fail and be kicked of site.

The VA meanwhile has no teeth to enforce its laughingly called directive to Government depts and agencies.

It's not their directive, and yes, they have no teeth. Your MP does. Write to your MP.

A start would be that SC at all but the higher levels should be terminated once a job is left rather than remaining in force for 12 months.

That's just a waste of taxpayers' money.

If this was to happen, more contractors would be able to take up these roles.

It would be the same number, just different ones each time, and there would be a built-in delay of up to 3 months to all public sector secure recruitment. Fair on you sometimes, unfair on the taxpayer.

She told me that they needed people immediately and I would not be considered as they needed DV clearance and I only had SC clearance..

DV takes yonks to sort out. Their requirement is now. WTF should they wait for you if there is someone else out there that can do the gig and is already cleared? That just makes no sense.

As this was from the government official themselves can I speak to the VA about this?

Do it. phone them and see what they say. Or, write to your MP.

Seems like you're wasting your time with these DV roles unless you get extremely lucky.

Suits me. So don't apply - I can then guarantee you will never get one. But someone else will. Alternatively, have the right skills and experience and hope there is nobody else cleared that does. That is how people that are not ex-forces get their clearance. I have been cleared twice so I know it happens. First time because I was immediately available (literally immediate) and had a spot-on skills match, second time because of rare niche skills that I gained on purpose because I knew government used them.

But if you're just a generic developer going for a gig asking for experience of working on military secure systems, working with forces personnel, on military-specific applications, in complex environments, do not be surprised if you are not shortlisted. There's a hell of a lot of highly competent, IT-literate, ex-forces personnel out there, sat on their arses trying to find work. They're used to the culture, the systems, the way the forces work, the jargon, the insanity - they'll get that gig before you do and before I do, and I don't really have a problem with that.

Probably black listed now but I thought it was worth a go

Unlikely. I don't believe blacklists exist.

[gingerjedi]

I wouldn't worry, it looks as though SC roles are now paying below market rate:

http://www.jobserve.co.uk/SC-Cleared...A61A364F.jsjob

I'd rather sweep the local streets on NMW than have all the hassle of commuting, actually knowing some stuff and being polite to people, the benefit system would make up the shortfall.