Disclosure Scotland (PVG Scheme)
If you need to join the Scottish PVG scheme, or just renew your PVG membership, we can lighten the administrative burden.
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Disclosure Scotland’s PVG scheme
The PVG Scheme is delivered by Disclosure Scotland which, as an executive agency of the Scottish Government, takes on additional responsibilities. These include taking decisions, on behalf of Scottish Ministers, about who should be barred from working with vulnerable groups. If you looking for a Registered Body that removes the hassle of applying for a PVG check and guarantees to deliver a secure, reliable, and professional service? Read more to find out how DDC can help you.
It is mandatory to be a member of the PVG Scheme for those in regulated roles with children and protected adults, positions of responsibility, or those exercising power or influence over vulnerable groups. Organisations must not offer any type of role to an individual unless they have received a PVG Scheme Disclosure. It is an offence for an individual to carry out a regulated role whilst not a member of the PVG scheme and/or for an organisation to offer any type of regulated role to an individual unless they have received a Level 2 with PVG disclosure appropriate to the client group. Regulated work can include; caring responsibilities, teaching, or supervising children and or protected adults or working directly with children and/or protected adults.
Common roles eligible for a PVG check include:
- Teachers and school staff
- Doctors, Nurses and Carers
- Volunteering with children
- Dentists
- Trustees, board members
If the role does not fall within these requirements, then an organisation must not request a PVG check but may wish to opt for a basic level check.
What are the PVG Scheme aims?
- 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.
How does the PVG Scheme work?
The PVG Scheme assesses if an individual, working or intending to work with children and/or vulnerable adults in a ‘Regulated’ role, is suitable. Members create an online account with Disclosure Scotland where they can receive and share their online certificates with their employer. These online certificates will list any spent or unspent criminal convictions received to date. If the individual was barred from undertaking such work, they would not be allowed to join the Scheme or, if they were barred subsequent to joining, their membership would be revoked after a period of ‘consideration’.
Eligible applicants can join the Level 2 PVG Scheme directly if they are going to do a regulated role for an individual or as self-employed by applying for a Confirmation of PVG scheme membership. This adds them to the PVG Scheme so that their details are updated with any vetting information that is added to their . Vetting information is defined as conviction information retrieved from criminal justice systems and relevant non-conviction information held by the Police. Disclosure Scotland continue to collect vetting information after a person becomes a PVG Scheme member which ensures that new information 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.
If, after careful assessment a person is considered a risk and, therefore, is unsuitable to work with children and/or protected adults, Disclosure Scotland will list them on one or both of the barred lists. This means that the person will not be able to become a PVG Scheme member. It is also an offence for a barred person – and for an organisation to permit that person – to undertake regulated work.
By law, PVG Scheme members must inform Disclosure Scotland about any changes to their name, gender, or barred status. It is also important they keep their contact and employer details up-to-date.
What is the PVG application process?
PVG applications are now being processed online through Disclosure Scotland’s online portal. For PVG applications the steps to verify an applicant’s identity must be undertaken prior to them being added to the system and an online form being completed. Disclosure Scotland has confirmed that they have systems in place to ensure that the form completion is accurate.
The new process can be summarised in the following simple steps:
- The applicant provides original documents to prove their basic details to the Countersignatory. Copies of these documents will be stored for 6 months under current Disclosure Scotland requirements.
- The Countersignatory logs in to the Disclosure Scotland portal and provides the applicants name, DOB, address, and email address details.
- Disclosure Scotland emails the applicant access to their online form, with a follow-up if the form is not completed within their approved timeframe.
- The applicant completes the relevant form on the Disclosure Scotland portal.
- Disclosure Scotland undertakes their checks and issue results.
- An online result is emailed to the applicant where they have the option to share their certificate with DDC via the portal for the results to be shared with their employer.*
- The requesting organisation is notified electronically regarding the certificate information.
- Please note that when the certificate has been issued, Disclosure Scotland will no longer inform DDC Ltd or the employer. Once it has been issued, the applicant must log on to their online portal and ‘share’ it with DDC Ltd. If they do not do this within 14 days the results may be terminated by Disclosure Scotland. Applicants will receive an email from Disclosure Scotland to do this
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Some common questions
We’ve gathered together a large collection of the most common questions we get asked. You can see them all in our FAQ section. We’ve included a few of the most popular below.
How much does a PVG check cost?
The cost of a PVG check depends on whether the applicant has joined the scheme previously.
Service and Disclosure Type |
DDC Fees (ex. VAT) |
Disclosure Scotland Fees (VAT exempt) |
Total (inc. VAT where applicable) |
| Joining the PVG Scheme | £20.00 | £59.00 | £83.00 |
| PVG Scheme Update | £20.00 | £18.00 | £42.00 |
| PVG Volunteer Check* | £20.00 | FREE | £24.00 |
*Organisations must become a qualifying voluntary organisation (QVO) to get free PVG checks for volunteers.
DDC can also provide basic Disclosure Scotland checks which cost £25.00 and includes information on any unspent convictions.
If you are requesting a large volume of checks, please contact one of the team on 0845 644 3298 to discuss the pricing options. Read more about costs and prices.
What are the different PVG documents that are issued?
Each of these documents should give an indication of the type of work that the applicant has registered to provide (Regulated Work with children and/or adults).
Confirmation of PVG scheme membership– this is for those going to do a regulated role for an individual or as self-employed. This shows that confirms that they are a member of the PVG scheme, that they are not barred from working with vulnerable groups, and if they are under consideration for inclusion on the barring lists. This does not show any conviction information.
A Level 2 PVG Scheme Record – this document can only be obtained if an applicant has applied through an employer or Registered Body like DDC. Upon application, a PVG Record will be issued to the organisation that countersigned the application, and to the applicant themselves. The PVG Record issued will include all conviction information that Disclosure Scotland has released. If an applicant does not own one of these documents, they have lost their copy or the existing document does not include Regulated Activity with the required groups, the employer should request a new Level 2 PVG Scheme Record. This will also ‘register the employer’s interest’ in the applicant to ensure they are informed of any future considerations for .
A Level 2 PVG Scheme Update – this document will confirm the most recent Level 2 PVG Scheme Record that was issued (through the document number and issue date) and if that document has changed in any way (e.g. no longer valid or new conviction information has been added). If new information is present on the record this document will not confirm what this information is. The only way to obtain the new information would be to request a new PVG Scheme Record.
How does the PVG Scheme work?
The PVG Scheme assesses if an individual, working or intending to work with children and/or vulnerable adults in a ‘Regulated’ role, is suitable. Members receive a Scheme Membership Certificate and, in most circumstances, a Scheme Record listing any spent or unspent criminal convictions received to date. If the individual was barred from undertaking such work they would not be allowed to join the Scheme or, if they were barred subsequent to joining, their membership would be revoked after a period of ‘consideration’.
Eligible applicants can join the PVG Scheme directly and are provided with a Membership Statement confirming their status. This adds them to the PVG Scheme so that their details are updated with any vetting information that is added to their record. Vetting information is defined as conviction information retrieved from criminal justice systems and relevant non-conviction information held by the Police. Disclosure Scotland continue to collect vetting information after a person becomes a PVG Scheme member which ensures that new information 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.
If, after careful assessment a person is considered a risk and, therefore, is unsuitable to work with children and/or protected adults, Disclosure Scotland will list them on one or both of the barred lists. This means that the person will not be able to become a PVG Scheme member. It is also an offence for a barred person – and for an organisation to permit that person – to undertake regulated work.
Can I use the e-Bulk system for Basic-level checks or PVG applications?
The e-Bulk system can be used to apply for Standard and Enhanced DBS checks. Basic level disclosure applications are still submitted electronically but via a web service to the DBS and Disclosure Scotland. Unfortunately, there is currently no bulk upload facility for PVG applications. Disclosure Scotland have committed to a modernisation programmes (as of November 2016) which includes allowing PVG applications to be submitted electronically.
What is the difference between a PVG Scheme application and a DBS Check?
There are several key differences between the application for a DBS Disclosure and an application to join the PVG scheme. Below are some of the key differences and the questions an employer should ask before deciding on the correct process:
Where will the applicant be working?
To be eligible for the PVG Scheme the applicant must be working in Scotland and undertaking Regulated Work with children and/or adults. To be eligible for a DBS Check the role must fall within the DBS definition of Regulated Activity and the employment/recruitment decision must be made in England or Wales. The requirements are different between the schemes and please read the corresponding pages for more information.
Continuous Updating
Under the PVG Scheme any employer that has ‘registered an interest’ in an applicant will be informed if they become ‘considered for barring’. They will not be informed if something is added to the applicant’s criminal record.
Who can apply to join the PVG Scheme?
An individual can apply to join the PVG scheme directly to Disclosure Scotland, and receive a Scheme Membership Statement. However an employer/recruiting body should ensure they obtain a Scheme Record for the applicant or a Scheme Update, to ‘register an interest’ in the applicant and received continuous updating information, about consideration for barring. To apply for a Scheme Record, Scheme Update or DBS check an application must be made through a Registered Body (such as DDC Ltd.)
Different types of application form
When an employer is offering an applicant a role undertaking Regulated Activity in Scotland they should ensure they have ‘registered an interest’ in the applicant. There are three different forms that an applicant can complete, based upon their current PVG Status. For more information please read our general PVG Scheme information page. DBS check application forms are identical for all applicants, irrespective of any previous applications.
How long does a PVG Check last?
Both DBS Certificate and PVG Scheme Records are accurate at the point of printing however anything can be added to the individual’s criminal record after that point, that would not be shown on the Certificate. Both systems offer the employer a method of checking if that Certificate is still accurate (through the DBS Update Service or a PVG Scheme Update form) however the PVG Scheme includes continuous updating so that any employer that has registered an interest in an applicant is informed if there is any ‘consideration for barring’. This does not include if anything has been added to a criminal record so employers should decide if or how frequently re-checks are required.
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