Referencing + workforce compliance
Check them properly.Then keep them compliant.
Structured, AI-assisted reference checking, and a compliance record that tracks right to work, DBS and training expiry for every worker you place. One platform, from the first reference to an audit-ready workforce.
5 free credits on signup No card required
Right to work and DBS entries are records made by your staff, with the dates they were performed. Expiry is tracked and shown whenever someone looks. Illustrative record.
Live activityIllustrative
The AI reads what referees write and flags anomalies for a human to review. It does not reject a candidate, and it does not decide anything on its own. Every judgement on the record is made by one of your people.
Everything a reference check should be.
Structured, automated and analysed, so every reference you run stands up to scrutiny and reads cleanly for the client.
Structured referee questionnaires
Send referees a consistent, role-appropriate questionnaire, so you compare like for like instead of chasing free-text emails.
// consistent every timeAI reference summaries
Every completed pack is distilled into a plain-English summary, the outcome at a glance, without reading between the lines.
// on every completed referenceRed-flag analysis & fraud detection
Every submission is screened for same-IP matches automatically, and every written response is also checked on its own for vague, generic answers — then once two or more referees have responded in full, the AI compares their answers against each other for signs of coordination or copying, so inconsistencies surface before they reach your client.
// same-IP checked on every submissionPrintable client-ready reports
A clean, professional report you can share with a client or keep on file, the finished reference, ready to hand over.
// share or archivePer-candidate activity reports
Download a full activity report for any candidate, every request, response and check, timestamped as an audit trail.
// downloadable audit trailAuto-refund on non-response
If a candidate or referee never responds, your credit comes back automatically. You only pay for references that complete.
// credits protectedSee it in action, try it yourself.
Walk through a complete reference check as the agency, the candidate and the referee. No sign-up, and every name, date and figure is fictional.
Referencing walkthrough
Seven steps from raising a request to the client-ready pack.
Try the referencing walkthroughCompliance walkthrough
Seven steps through Right to Work, DBS, training, permitted hours and the audit report.
Try the compliance walkthroughNo sign-up, nothing is sent, and every name, date and figure is fictional.
The reference is just the start.
Referencing gets your candidate hired. Compliance keeps you audit-proof.
The same candidate record carries on into full workforce compliance, one platform, one audit trail. No spreadsheet, no second tool, no gaps between the reference and the next inspection.
- Right to Work, share codes, verification & expiry
- DBS with Update Service checks
- Training records & renewal tracking
- Expired & expiring documents in one view
- Deliberate sign-off before a worker goes active
- One platform, one audit trail
From 1 October 2026, the Right to Work regime extends to agency, contract and platform workers, and end clients are already being advised to demand evidence of checks.
Right to Work rules extend to agency and contingent workers
From 1 October 2026, the UK’s Right to Work regime extends beyond employees to a far wider range of working arrangements, including agency, contract and platform workers. Where your agency directly engages the workers you supply, the checks, and the liability, sit with you.
Penalties are £45,000 per worker for a first breach, rising to £60,000 per worker for repeats, and end clients are already being advised to demand evidence of checks from their agencies.
Right to Work tracking is part of the Compliance Suite. See what's included.
- Record & verifyRight to Work share codes and verification dates on every worker record.
- Never miss an expiryExpiring and expired checks surface automatically before they lapse.
- Evidence on demandA downloadable audit trail your clients can rely on, one record per worker.
ReferenceSentinel records and evidences every check, so when a client asks for proof, you produce it in one click.
Built for agencies that do it by the book.
If you already take safe recruitment seriously, ReferenceSentinel makes it faster to run and easier to prove. It's protection for the compliant, not a shortcut for anyone cutting corners.
Recruitment agencies seeking audit protection
Agencies placing workers into regulated sectors, care, healthcare and beyond, where an inspector can ask you to evidence every check on the spot. ReferenceSentinel keeps that evidence current and exportable.
Individual recruiters
Solo and small-team recruiters who need professional, defensible references without an enterprise contract. Pay-as-you-go credits, five free to start, and nothing to cancel.
UK-based
Built and operated in the UK for UK recruitment agencies, in line with UK data protection law.
ICO registered
Reg. ZC175485
Operated by SentinelHQ Limited
Audit-ready by design
Every reference and check is timestamped and exportable, so proof is a download, not a scramble.
The work already running on the platform.
Platform totals, rounded down.
Two ways to buy. One platform.
The Compliance Suite is the full platform on one monthly seat price, with reference credits included. Just need references? Pay per candidate, no subscription. Book a demo and we'll walk through what fits your agency.
Everything, one monthly seat price
See it before you buy: the compliance walkthrough covers Right to Work, DBS, training, permitted hours and the audit report.
Includes a monthly allowance of reference credits added straight to your balance, on top of the full compliance platform.
- ✓Right to Work & DBS tracking with expiry dates
- ✓Training records & document vault with renewal tracking
- ✓Live readiness scoring, sign-off gate & compliance dashboard
- ✓Shift booking with a compliance gate — hard stops on expired RTW/DBS or missing sign-off
- ✓Client-safe activity reports for audit evidence
- ✓A monthly reference-credit allowance included, per seat
- ✓Extra credits whenever you need them
Just referencing, pay per candidate
No subscription, no fixed bundles — buy credits whenever you need them, and the rate improves the more you buy in one go.
- ✓1 credit = 1 candidate, up to 5 referees
- ✓AI fraud detection & red-flag alerts, including same-IP checks on every submission and a specificity check on written responses
- ✓Structured PDF report, permanently logged
- ✓No-response & email-bounce credit protection
- ✓Credits never expire, no subscription
Every account starts with 5 free reference credits. No card required.
ReferenceSentinel vs RefNow
| Feature | ReferenceSentinel | RefNow |
|---|---|---|
| How pricing works | Full plan & feature breakdown published at /pricing; book a demo for your rate | Not published: demo/quote required |
| Getting started | 5 free credits, no card | 14-day trial |
| Money back if a reference isn't returned | Automatic credit refund, guaranteed | Not published on their site |
| Automated referee chasing (email + SMS) | Yes | Yes |
| AI summary & key concerns on every completed reference | Yes | Not published on their site |
| Fraud detection | ✓, same-IP on every submission, specificity check on written responses, AI comparison once two can be compared, Companies House when an employer is given | Yes |
| Right to Work recording & expiry tracking | ✓, incl. permitted-hours guard | Share-code checks; expiry tracking not published |
| DBS expiry & Update Service tracking | Yes | Checks offered; renewal tracking not published |
| Ongoing workforce compliance (audit dashboard, sign-off, shifts) | ✓, full suite, included in the Compliance Suite subscription | Not offered per their published product range |
| Built for | UK recruitment agencies | In-house HR & enterprise |
Both platforms includeAutomated referee chasing (email + SMS)
Comparison based on refnow.com as published 23 July 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What does ReferenceSentinel do?
It's professional employment reference checking for UK recruitment agencies. You send structured questionnaires to referees, the chasing runs automatically, and you get back a client-ready report with an AI summary on every completed reference and automated fraud checks alongside it. The same candidate record then carries on into workforce compliance if you need it.
How does the AI help on a reference?
Every completed reference is summarised in plain English. Fraud checks run alongside it: same-IP matching runs on every submission, a specificity check runs on every written response, an AI comparison across referees runs once two or more have responded in full, and Companies House verification runs when a referee gives an employer name. You always see the underlying referee answers, the AI adds a layer, it doesn't replace them.
What compliance does it cover beyond referencing?
The same worker record can carry Right to Work (share codes, verification and expiry), DBS with Update Service checks, training records, and full visibility of expired and expiring documents. A deliberate sign-off gate marks a worker as active, all on one platform with one audit trail.
What changes on 1 October 2026?
The UK's Right to Work regime extends beyond employees to a far wider range of working arrangements, including agency, contract and platform workers. Where your agency directly engages the workers you supply, the checks and the liability sit with you, with penalties of £45,000 per worker for a first breach, rising to £60,000 per worker for repeats. ReferenceSentinel records and evidences every check so you can produce proof the moment a client asks.
How does pricing work?
There are two ways to buy: the Compliance Suite (the full workforce compliance platform, one monthly seat price, reference credits included) or pay-as-you-go referencing with no subscription and no fixed bundles. Full plan details, add-ons and answers to common pricing questions are on our pricing page, or book a 30-minute demo and we'll walk through what fits your agency. New accounts start with 5 free credits, no card required.
Is candidate and referee data secure?
Data is hosted in the EU and handled in line with UK data protection law. ReferenceSentinel is operated by SentinelHQ Limited (ICO registered, ZC175485), with referee and candidate journeys protected by secure, expiring access tokens.
Start with references.
Grow into compliance.
Run professional, audit-ready references today, and keep the same records compliant as the rules tighten. 5 free credits to start, no card required.