Logo

Government Compliance

NHS Recruitment Websites Achieve WCAG 2.2 Compliance and Security Standards

Legacy NHS physician recruitment websites updated to meet strict government accessibility and security requirements — achieving 95% WCAG 2.2 compliance and Grade A security ratings.

🚀 Compliance Achieved

  • 95% WCAG 2.2 Accessibility Score
  • Zero Critical Accessibility Issues
  • Grade A Security Rating
  • GDPR Compliant
  • Government Submission Ready
NHS compliance reports

The Requirement

NHS physician recruitment websites needed to meet strict government accessibility and security standards for continued operation. As part of a government submission, the client needed to provide evidence of WCAG 2.2 compliance and demonstrate that their websites met security requirements. The sites were legacy systems that had been operating for years but hadn't been updated for modern accessibility standards or current security best practices.

The Challenge

Government Compliance Deadlines

The client needed to complete compliance spreadsheets and provide evidence for government submission — time-sensitive requirement with strict standards that couldn't be compromised.

Legacy Website Architecture

The sites were built years ago before current accessibility standards existed, requiring significant updates to HTML structure, form handling, and navigation without breaking existing functionality.

Multiple Compliance Standards

Had to meet WCAG 2.2 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines), EN 301 549 (European accessibility standard), ADA requirements, Section 508 (US federal accessibility), and GDPR privacy regulations simultaneously.

Security Modernization

Legacy security implementations needed updating to meet current best practices, including modern encryption, secure headers, and protection against contemporary threats.

Accessibility Compliance Work

WCAG 2.2 Standards

Updated sites to meet WCAG 2.2 Level AA compliance — the international standard accepted by ADA, Section 508, and worldwide accessibility legislation. Achieved 95% automated compliance score.

95% WCAG compliance score
95% Accessibility Score

Zero Critical Issues

Addressed all critical accessibility barriers that would prevent users with disabilities from accessing content or completing essential tasks. Both sites achieved zero critical issues.

Zero critical issues
No Critical Issues

Semantic HTML Structure

Rebuilt page structures with proper semantic HTML, heading hierarchies, and ARIA labels — ensuring screen readers and assistive technologies can navigate content effectively.

Accessible Forms

Updated recruitment application forms with proper labels, error handling, keyboard navigation, and clear instructions — critical for physician recruitment where forms are the primary interaction.

Color Contrast and Visual Design

Ensured all text meets WCAG 2.2 color contrast ratios, buttons and links are clearly identifiable, and information isn't conveyed by color alone.

Keyboard Navigation

Verified all functionality is accessible via keyboard alone, with visible focus indicators and logical tab order — essential for users who can't use a mouse.

Security Compliance Work

Grade A Security Rating

Achieved Grade A rating for software security — no vulnerabilities found in the CMS, components, or web applications through comprehensive security testing.

Grade A security rating
Grade A Security

Secure Headers

Implemented comprehensive security headers including Content Security Policy, X-Frame-Options, and HTTP Strict Transport Security — protecting against common web vulnerabilities.

HTTPS Encryption

Ensured all traffic uses HTTPS with modern TLS encryption, protecting sensitive physician recruitment data and personal information during transmission.

GDPR Compliance

Implemented privacy policies, cookie consent, and data handling practices that meet GDPR requirements for processing personal data of EU residents.

Cloudflare Protection

Sites protected by Cloudflare infrastructure providing DDoS protection, web application firewall, and global CDN for performance and security.

Compliance Results

WCAG 2.2

Requirement Level AA compliance
Result 95% score, 0 critical issues
Status ✓ Compliant

EN 301 549

Requirement European accessibility
Result Passed all automated audits
Status ✓ Compliant

Section 508

Requirement US federal accessibility
Result Meets requirements
Status ✓ Compliant

Security

Requirement No vulnerabilities
Result Grade A rating
Status ✓ Secure

GDPR

Requirement Privacy compliance
Result Privacy policy, data protection
Status ✓ Compliant

Legal Risk

Requirement Lawsuit exposure
Result Minor risk assessment
Status ✓ Low Risk

Government Submission Documentation

Compliance documentation
Compliance Reports for Government Submission

The client received comprehensive documentation proving compliance with all required standards, suitable for government submission:

📄 Accessibility Reports

  • Detailed WCAG 2.2 compliance reports for each site
  • Breakdown of passed audits and remaining manual checks
  • Evidence of zero critical accessibility issues
  • Compliance with international accessibility standards
  • Assessment of legal risk and lawsuit exposure

🔒 Security Reports

  • Comprehensive security testing results
  • Grade A ratings for software security
  • Analysis of web server configuration and headers
  • GDPR and data privacy compliance verification
  • Evidence of secure encryption and protection measures

✓ Completed Compliance Spreadsheets

All required government submission forms completed with evidence and documentation attached, ready for upload to government websites.

Why This Matters for NHS Sites

Legal Requirement

Public sector websites must meet accessibility standards by law — failure to comply risks legal action, fines, and loss of government contracts.

Inclusive Access

NHS recruitment sites serve diverse audiences including physicians with disabilities. Accessibility ensures everyone can apply for positions regardless of ability.

Professional Reputation

Demonstrable compliance with accessibility and security standards reflects professional standards expected of healthcare organizations.

Reduced Liability

Achieving 95% WCAG 2.2 compliance with zero critical issues significantly reduces legal exposure and lawsuit risk.

Government Submission

Comprehensive compliance documentation enables contract renewals and government submissions without delays or compliance concerns.

Key Achievements

95% WCAG 2.2 Compliance

Both sites achieved 95% automated accessibility scores with zero critical issues — exceeding baseline requirements for government acceptance.

Grade A Security

No software vulnerabilities found, comprehensive security headers implemented, and modern encryption protecting all data transmission.

Multiple Standards Met

Single update process achieved compliance with WCAG 2.2, EN 301 549, ADA, Section 508, and GDPR simultaneously.

Government Ready Documentation

Complete compliance reports and documentation package ready for government submission without additional work required.

Future-Proofed

Sites now meet current standards and are positioned for future accessibility and security requirement changes.

Need Your Site to Meet Accessibility or Security Standards?


Click here to schedule a conversation about compliance requirements

Friendly advice, highly experienced, no sales pressure

Call: +44 (0) 3330 066 280

Or email: 

[email protected]

BRING INFORMATION TOGETHER

Continue your journey to Content Management