What is the PVG Scheme in Scotland?

What is the PVG Scheme?

The PVG scheme has been designed to protect vulnerable adults and children from harm, by delving into people’s criminal history and ensuring people who aren’t suitable to work with these protected groups don’t get into the field. This scheme is managed by Disclosure Scotland, which also helped to develop The Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020.

Background checks under the PVG scheme are part of assessing your suitability for a role once you apply or volunteer. When applying for membership in the scheme, Disclosure Scotland will carry out the necessary criminal record checks and will share these results with those who require them. Once your membership is approved, your criminal record will be monitored for any new vetting information.

The PVG scheme will show any unspent and spent convictions for certain offences, unspent cautions and whether you’re on the sex offenders register. If you have committed or end up committing an offence that causes employers to question your suitability for the job, then they will notify Disclosure Scotland. Once they have reviewed the information, they have the power to ban you from the PVG scheme.

After a successful application, you will receive a PVG certificate which will contain your personal information, your membership number and your disclosure number.

What is Disclosure Scotland?

Disclosure Scotland is a government order that checks and shares information regarding criminal records of people applying for paid or unpaid work, volunteering or adopting children. It checks and shares people’s criminal histories to help organisations hire the right people for certain roles, such as working with protected adults and children.

Is Disclosure Scotland the same as PVG

Disclosure Scotland and PVG Scotland are not the same thing exactly. The PVG Scheme is managed by Disclosure Scotland. Disclosure Scotland also has other roles and manages other employee check services such as its basic disclosure service.

Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020

The Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 was put In place on 14^th July 2020 to modernise and improve the balance of the disclosure system in Scotland. This legislative framework focuses on protecting vulnerable adults and children. At the same time, it helps to stabilise the need for people with convictions to move on from their past and start contributing to society.

When Did PVG Scheme Start?

The PVG Scheme was established under Part 2 of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 on 28^th February 2011. It was introduced and designed to safeguard both vulnerable adults and children against harm, as memberships for people working in regulated roles with these vulnerable groups are mandatory.

How Do You Apply to Join the PVG Scheme?

If you’re applying to do regulated work with vulnerable groups, your employer is likely to ask you to join the PVG scheme. The quickest way to apply is online. Your employer will need to start the first part of the application process, then they will send you the second part via email to complete. Once you’ve finished, the application will be submitted to Disclosure Scotland.

Whether you complete an online application or fill out paper application forms, the process will require you to confirm your identity and address. The organisation you will be working for will tell you the acceptable forms of ID you can use. There is also a fee to join the scheme, however, some employers will cover the fee. If not, they will tell you that you need to pay for it.

There are 4 different PVG disclosure record types that you can apply for, they are:

1. Scheme Record – Perfect for those wanting to join the PVG scheme to carry out regulated work.
2. Existing Scheme Record – Required for those who are already PVG scheme members but they’re moving to a new organisation to work with a different protected group.
3. Scheme Record Update – Needed for PVG scheme members joining a new organisation but they will be working with the same protected group.
4. Scheme Membership Statement – Suitable for self-employed individuals who will be carrying out regulated work, or for those employing people to do regulated work e.g. if you employ a personal care assistant.

If you are confused and want to know what type of PVG disclosure record you have to apply for, then you should contact Disclosure Scotland for more information.

How Long Does a PVG Check Take in Scotland?

In most cases, PVG applications will be completed within 14 calendar days. Please note that this does not include postage. Your application will take longer if you have made any mistakes, Disclosure Scotland needs to contact you for more information, or if any additional checks need to be carried out. You can track the progress of your application online.

How Long Does a PVG Last in Scotland?

A PVG membership will last for life. Members will be checked continuously until they choose to leave the scheme. If new information is sourced and it shows that you aren’t suitable to work with vulnerable groups, you will inform employers, remove you from the scheme and bar you from regulated work.

It’s recommended that employers obtain updates on individual PVG scheme memberships every 3 years (at least). This is because a PVG member certificate only shows the information that was available on the day it was created. If any personal information changes, you should contact Disclosure Scotland.

How Much is a PVG Scotland?

When you join the PVG scheme, you will get a PVG disclosure. The costs for a PVG membership will depend on the type of disclosure record (covered above) you’re applying for. The costs (as of March 2023) can be seen below:

Type of Disclosure	Cost	Vetting Information Included
Scheme Record	£59	Yes
Existing Scheme Record	£59	Yes
Scheme Record Update	£18	No
Scheme Membership Statement	£18 for existing members £59 for new applicants	No

 

How Software Can Help You Stay Compliant

As you can see, PVG checks in Scotland are essential in health and social care. They protect vulnerable groups and ensure that they receive safe, high-quality care from trusted individuals. They are a mandatory requirement for those carrying out regulated work and can protect employers from legal action. They also safeguard members of the team by ensuring that their co-workers are dependable and trustworthy. It’s the employer's responsibility to sort out PVG applications and keep on top of PVG checks, and having the right digital software in place can help you keep on top of things.

At The Access Group, we have an automated screening solution for care management, this is part of our recruitment and screening software. You can use this to help you meet Part 2 of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 by providing right-to-work and reference checks. This speeds up employment screening checks for new and existing care workers. It’s also part of the Access Care Suite and is integrated with other parts of the suite where necessary.

The Access Care Suite has everything you need to plan, manage and monitor care quickly and efficiently. You can use this software to your care team work more efficiently to deliver better care. Our platform helps care businesses save time, reduce costs and mitigate errors while giving employees, family and healthcare professionals real-time access to all of the information they need.

With over 30 years of experience digitising thousands of local, national and international social care providers of all sizes, we at Access have the expertise you need to succeed. We also offer ongoing support to help you digitise your business with confidence. If you would like to try out our leading online care management software, contact us today and book a demo.