In 2010, the Scottish Government introduced a new membership scheme that replaced and improved upon the current disclosure arrangements for people who work with vulnerable groups. The Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme (PVG Scheme) will:

• Help to ensure that those who have regular contact with children and protected adults through paid and unpaid work do not have a known history of harmful behaviour;
• Be quick and easy to use, reducing the need for PVG Scheme members to complete a detailed application form every time a disclosure check is required;
• Strike a balance between proportionate protection and robust regulation and make it easier for employers to determine who they should check to protect their client group.

The PVG Scheme has built upon what has been learned from current disclosure and disqualification services in Scotland to develop an efficient membership scheme that will strengthen protection for vulnerable groups and replace bureaucracy.

As well as strengthening safeguards for children, the PVG Scheme will improve protection for adults because; for the first time in Scotland, there will be a list of those who are barred from working with protected adults (there is already a list of those who are barred from working with children).

People who work, on a regular basis, with vulnerable groups will join the PVG Scheme and, from then on, their membership records will be automatically updated if any new vetting information arises. Vetting information is conviction information retrieved from criminal justice systems and non-conviction information held by the police that is considered relevant.

Continuing to collect vetting information, after a person becomes a PVG Scheme member, will help to ensure that new information indicating that they might pose a risk to vulnerable groups can be acted upon promptly. In the vast majority of cases, there will be no new vetting information that is relevant to work with vulnerable groups. (CRBS, 2010)

The PVG Scheme will be managed and delivered by Disclosure Scotland which, as an executive agency of the Scottish Government, will take on additional responsibilities. This will include taking decisions, on behalf of Scottish Ministers, about who should be barred from working with vulnerable groups. (Disclosure Scotland, 2010)

For more information on the PVG Scheme please visit the following websites:

http://www.pvgschemescotland.org/ 

http://www.disclosurescotland.co.uk/pvg/pvg_index.html