PVG Scheme - 2025

‍Disclosure Scotland

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Disclosure Scotland is the Scottish Government agency responsible for conducting criminal record checks as part of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme and the Disclosure levels.

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You may be asked to apply to become a PVG Scheme member when applying for a job or volunteering role that involves doing regulated work with Children and/or Protected Adults. Disclosure Scotland have created a video that provides an overview of all of the types of disclosure that they offer.

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The information on this page is designed to help you understand the PVG Scheme. If you require a different level of disclosure, please see our Disclosure Levels page.

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PVG Scheme

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What is the PVG scheme?

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The Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme is a government-run scheme in Scotland that helps to safeguard children and protected adults from harm. It does this by providing a criminal record check for people who want to work with these vulnerable groups. 

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The PVG Scheme is governed by two pieces of legislation. The Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 and the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007.

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What is the purpose of the PVG scheme?

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The PVG scheme is an important safeguarding measure for protecting children and protected adults from harm. By conducting criminal record and other checks, the PVG scheme helps to ensure that only those who are suitable to work with these vulnerable groups are able to do so.

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Who manages the PVG scheme?

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The PVG scheme is managed by Disclosure Scotland.

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How do I apply for a PVG?

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Information on how to apply to the PVG scheme can be accessed on the Disclosure Scotland website. 

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Who needs a PVG in Scotland?

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Anyone who wants to do a regulated role with children and/or protected adults in Scotland will need to join the PVG scheme. 

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It is important to understand what counts as a regulated role because only then will you know whether you need to join the PVG scheme or not.

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Disclosure Scotland have created a video that helps to explain what counts as Regulated Roles.

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Children

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A role is a regulated role in 3 circumstances:

1 – If the role involves carrying out one of the activities listed below and you meet the following conditions:

-        The activities are a necessary part of the role.

-        The activities take place in Scotland (if the activity takes place outside of Scotland but is carried out on behalf of an organisation based in Scotland then it will be treated as if it was in Scotland).

-        The activities give you the opportunity to have contact with children (apart from “Carrying out an activity in an educational institution, hospital, nursery, day care premises, hospice, residential care setting or secure accommodation for children” in which case it would be a regulated role if you have the opportunity for unsupervised contact with children).

2 – If you are supervising or managing a person who is carrying out the activities in their own regulated role.

3 – If you are training or studying in Scotland to carry out the activities listed below if the training gives you the opportunity to have contact with children.

Activities

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Child protection

·       Acting as a foster carer in relation to the child.

·       Making decisions in relation to a child’s care arrangements where a council has facilitated the child’s care arrangements.

·       Having responsibility for the safety and welfare of a child, other than acting as a foster carer in relation to the child.

·       Having the ability to directly influence decisions about the safety or welfare of a child, other than in the capacity of an elected representative or as the holder of a judicial office.

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Education and training

·       Teaching, instructing or delivering training to children.

·       Having the ability to directly influence the operational delivery of education services for children, other than in the capacity of an elected representative or as the holder of a judicial office.

·       Holding power or influence over a child for the purpose of—

o   (a)an activity in which the child is taking part or seeking to take part in,

o   (b)arranging the future recruitment, training or employment of the child.

·       Providing advice or guidance to children in relation to career development or education.

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Childcare

·       Being in charge of or caring for children, other than acting as a foster carer.

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Care, health and accommodation services

·       Practising as a registered medical practitioner.

·       Practising as a registered nurse, midwife or health visitor.

·       Practising as a chiropractor pursuant to registration with the General Chiropractic Council.

·       Practising as a dentist pursuant to registration with the General Dental Council.

·       Practising as an optician pursuant to registration with the General Optical Council.

·       Practising as an osteopath pursuant to registration with the General Osteopathic Council.

·       Practising as a pharmacist pursuant to registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council.

·       Being engaged in the provision of a domestic service (including cleaning, preparing food, acting as a caretaker of premises or carrying out maintenance of premises) that is provided for children in an educational institution, hospital, day care premises, hospice, hostel, residential care setting or secure accommodation for children.

·       Carrying out an activity in an educational institution, hospital, nursery, day care premises, hospice, residential care setting or secure accommodation for children.

·       Providing a care home service or an independent healthcare service which is provided exclusively or mainly for children.

·       Being engaged by or on behalf of a child with an illness or disability to provide personal care services.

·       Providing counselling, therapy or advice or guidance in relation to health or wellbeing to children, other than where such counselling, therapy, advice or guidance is provided in a prison by a prisoner to another prisoner.

·       Having the ability to directly influence the operational delivery of medical or care services for children, other than in the capacity of an elected representative or as the holder of a judicial office.

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Leisure activities

·       Providing cultural, leisure, social or recreational activities for children.

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Sports activities

·       Coaching children in relation to sports or physical activity.

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Religious activities

·       Providing religious activities or services for children.

Miscellaneous

·       Driving or escorting children in connection with transport services provided exclusively or mainly for children.

·       Holding a position of responsibility in an organisation which has as one of its main purposes the provision of benefits for or to children (regardless of whether the organisation has an additional purpose of providing benefits for or to another group of persons).‍

Exceptions

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It is not a regulated role if:

·       The activity is carried out in the course of the child’s work (either paid or unpaid).

·       The activity is carried out in the course of a family relationship.

·       The activity is carried out as part of a personal relationship, for no payment and to benefit the person themselves, their family or a friend.

Definitions

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A child is defined as: anyone under the age of 18.

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Contact is defined as: physical contact with children, written or verbal communication with children and exercising power over children in a way that is more than incidental to carrying out the activity.

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Exercising power or influence of children is defined as:

(a)assisting, facilitating, permitting or impeding progress towards a desirable objective or outcome for a particular child,

(b)making decisions of an operational or strategic nature that could have an impact on a number of children, or

(c)persuading or putting pressure on a particular child to behave or act in a certain manner for the financial gain or personal gratification of a person other than the child.

Adults

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A role is a regulated role in 3 circumstances:

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1 – If the role involves carrying out one of the activities listed below and you meet the following conditions:

-        The activities are a necessary part of the role.

-        The activities take place in Scotland (if the activity takes place outside of Scotland but is carried out on behalf of an organisation based in Scotland then it will be treated as if it was in Scotland).

-        The activities give you the opportunity to have contact with protected adults.

2 – If you are supervising or managing a person who is carrying out the activities in their own regulated role.

3 – If you are training or studying in Scotland to carry out the activities listed below if the training gives you the opportunity to have contact with protected adults.

Activities

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Education, training and guidance

·        Teaching, instructing, training or supervising protected adults.

·        Providing advice or guidance to a protected adult in relation to education, training or employability.

Care, health and accommodation services

·        Practising as a registered medical practitioner.

·        Practising as a registered nurse, midwife or health visitor.

·        Practising as a chiropractor pursuant to registration with the General Chiropractic Council.

·        Practising as a dentist pursuant to registration with the General Dental Council.

·        Practising as an optician pursuant to registration with the General Optical Council.

·        Practising as an osteopath pursuant to registration with the General Osteopathic Council.

·        Practising as a pharmacist pursuant to registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council.

·        Being engaged in the provision of a domestic service (including cleaning, preparing food, acting as a caretaker of premises or carrying out maintenance of premises) that is provided for protected adults in a hospital, hospice, care home, day care centre or adult placement setting.

·        Being in charge of protected adults.

·        Being engaged by or on behalf of a protected adult to support the protected adult to live independently, including providing personal care services, food preparation or recreational services.

·        Providing support to a protected adult under a shared lives scheme.

·        Providing counselling, therapy or advice or guidance in relation to health or wellbeing to protected adults, other than where such counselling, therapy, advice or guidance is provided in a prison by a prisoner to another prisoner.

·        Having the ability to directly influence the operational delivery of medical or care services for protected adults, other than in the capacity of an elected representative or as the holder of a judicial office.

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Leisure activities

·        Providing cultural, leisure, social or recreational activities for protected adults.

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Sports activities

·        Coaching protected adults in relation to sports or physical activity.

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Religious activities

·        Providing religious activities or services for protected adults.

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Miscellaneous

·        Driving or escorting protected adults in connection with transport services provided exclusively or mainly for use by protected adults.

·        Holding a position of responsibility in an organisation whose main purpose is to provide benefits for or to protected adults (regardless of whether the organisation has an additional purpose of providing benefits for or to another group of persons).

Exceptions

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It is not a regulated role if:

·       The activity is carried out in the course of a family relationship.

·       The activity is carried out as part of a personal relationship, for no payment and to benefit the person themselves, their family or a friend.

Definitions

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A protected adult is defined as:

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-        Someone over the age of 18 who as a result of physical or mental disability, illness, infirmity or ageing has an impaired ability to protect themselves from physical or psychological harm or who requires assistance with activities of daily living, such as, personal care.

In addition, someone who is homeless, or has experienced, are experiencing or are at risk of experiencing domestic abuse if the activity includes the provision of counselling, therapy, advice or guidance for protected adults

Contact is defined as: physical contact with protected adults, written or verbal communication with protected adults and exercising power over protected adults in a way that is more than incidental to carrying out the activity.

Exercising power or influence over protected adults is defined as:

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(a)assisting, facilitating, permitting or impeding progress towards a desirable objective or outcome for a particular protected adult,

(b)making decisions of an operational or strategic nature that could have an impact on a number of protected adults, or

(c)persuading or putting pressure on a particular protected adult to behave or act in a certain manner for the financial gain or personal gratification of a person other than the protected adult.

Level 2 with PVG Disclosure

A PVG scheme disclosure will show:

• the baseline information shown for all Level 2 disclosures
• that you're a member of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme
• if you're under consideration for inclusion on the barred lists for work with children or adults
• if you have had any prescribed civil court orders

I have been told I am being “Considered for Listing”, what does this mean?

If you are being considered for listing, this means that Disclosure Scotland has received information to suggest that you might be a risk to children or protected adults. 

They might receive information about you from:

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•        Information about a conviction or other relevant information from the police

•        Information about a conviction from the Scottish Court Service

•        Referral from your former employer or regulatory body

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They will carry out an assessment process to decide whether or not you are suitable to carry out a regulated role.

If you are considered for listing, Disclosure Scotland will notify you and you employer (and regulatory body where relevant).

You will be told what information they hold about you and they will give you the chance to submit information that you think they should be aware of.

You can provide information that directly responds to the information they already have and you can also submit additional information relating to your own conduct and the level of risk you believe you pose.  You can include character references in this information.

They will provide their decision in writing to you, your employer and any relevant regulatory body.

It is worth bearing in mind that, if you weren’t a member of the PVG scheme prior to your conviction, particularly if the conviction is from before the PVG scheme existed, the ‘consideration for listing’ process will only occur if you apply to become a member of the PVG scheme. 

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Therefore, it is possible that you could become “listed” many, many years after your offence. 

Can I still work when I am being considered for listing?

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This section was due to come into effect on 1st April but has been postponed. We will update this page when we know when this part is coming into effect.

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It is possible for Disclosure Scotland to impose conditions upon you whilst they are making a decision about whether or not to bar you from working with children and/or protected adults. For example, they may:

-        stop you from carrying out a regulated role.

-        require that you only do your role under supervision.

-        require that you only do some types of regulated roles.

-        require you to tell them about any other regulated roles you are carrying out.

If they impose conditions, they must notify you in writing.  They will also tell your employer, the police and any relevant regulatory body.

What if I am listed / barred from the PVG scheme?

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If you are “listed” by Disclosure Scotland it's a criminal offence to do regulated work with the vulnerable groups you're listed for. It's also against the law for an organisation to employ a listed person in regulated work they're barred from. If you're listed, then you're not eligible for PVG scheme membership for that type of work.

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If you're unhappy about being listed as unsuitable to work with children and/or protected adults, you can appeal against the listing to a sheriff.

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This must be done within 3 months of Disclosure Scotland's decision to list you.

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If the sheriff thinks you are unsuitable for regulated work, the listing will remain in place. If the sheriff thinks you are suitable for regulated work, you will be removed from the list.

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If you disagree with the sheriff's decision, you can appeal against it to the sheriff principal. Disclosure Scotland can also appeal the decision if they disagree with it. Contact your local sheriff court for information on how to make this appeal.

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The sheriff principal's decision is final unless they allow an appeal to the Inner House of the Court of Session. The decision of the Inner House is final.

Apply to be removed from a list

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You can apply to be removed from a list if you meet any of the 3 criteria:

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•        You were listed at least 10 years ago

•        You were under 26 when you were listed and it’s at least 5 years since the listing

•        Your circumstances have changed and it affects your suitability to work with children or protected adults

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Examples of a relevant change in circumstances include:

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•        The conviction which caused your listing has been overturned

•        You’ve recovered from a mental illness which caused your offending

•        You’ve stopped problem behaviours for a long period of time and there’s independent evidence to support this

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Contact Disclosure Scotland and they’ll give you more information on how to apply.

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Email address specifically for questions relating to consideration or listing: pucorrespondence@disclosurescotland.gov.scot

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Phone: 0300 020 0040
Monday to Thursday 9am to 4pm
Friday 9am to 3:30pm

After you apply

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Disclosure Scotland will decide whether to remove you from a list. They may ask you to provide more information.

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They’ll carry out checks to help make their decision. For example, they’ll check if you’ve had any convictions since you were listed.

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If they decide you should stay on a list, they’ll tell you why they’ve made this decision and how you can appeal.

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If they decide to remove you from a list, you’ll no longer be barred from working with the group you were listed for. You can then apply to join the PVG scheme if you wish.

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