False information on CVs

A Senior NHS HR manager from Lympstone, Devon, who lied on her cv has been given a 6 month suspended prison sentence and ordered to pay £9,600 compensation.

She had been working as HR manager at East Devon PCT since 2003 and applied for promotion after it merged to form the Devon PCT in 2006.  She claimed to hold a degree in HR management and to be part way through a CIPD course.  The misrepresentation, in six attempts to obtain employment in March 2007, was discovered before her applications were considered.

Following false claims about qualifications in applications dating from 2003-2007, a former NHS director of planning and service modernisation was given a 12 week prison sentence.

Two recent studies have found that lying on cvs is increasing and posing a serious risk for employers.  The risk Advisory Group found that the cvs of 62.9% of 36-40 year olds contained inaccuracies, particularly about academic and employment dates, professional qualifications and County Court Judgements.

Powerchex analysed applications for financial services jobs and found 17% of cvs with discrepancies in the same categories.

The high cost of recruiting and sustaining employment means that it is important to ensure that you are taking on appropriately qualified and honest staff.  By following a careful recruitment procedure and checking references and details that are significant to the post, you can reduce the liklihood of being taken in by fraudulent claims.

If you need help with the recruitment process, Hardwick HR can offer advice and assistance.