Protecting vulnerable groups from those who would cause harm is a priority for the Scottish Government; Ministers will soon introduce the Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme (PVG Scheme) to replace and improve upon the Enhanced Disclosure Service for people who work with children and protected adults.
This is a new membership scheme that 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. Only people who do regulated work with children and protected adults will join the PVG Scheme. It will not apply to parents helping their children or to personal arrangements that parents may make with friends and family to look after their children.
Instead of providing a point-in-time snapshot of a person’s criminal history which is what the current enhanced disclosure service delivers, the PVG Scheme will continuously update people’s membership records when any new vetting information becomes known. Vetting information is conviction information retrieved from criminal justice systems and any other information held by the police that they consider is relevant. This means that any new information indicating that a person may have become a risk will be quickly identified, enabling action to be taken by Disclosure Scotland and by the individual’s employers.
As well as strengthening protection for children and protected adults, the PVG Scheme will be quick and easy for staff and volunteers to use and reduces the need for people to complete a lengthy application form each time a disclosure check is needed, which is a frustration with the current system.
It is expected that the PVG Scheme will go live during February 2011 and that it will take four years for all those already employed in regulated posts – around 700,000 people - to join. The PVG Scheme service will be free for volunteers working in the qualifying voluntary sector. The Central Registered Body in Scotland provides free disclosure checks, guidance, advice and support to voluntary sector organisations.George Roberts, Head Teacher at Kingwells Primary School Aberdeen said:
George Roberts, Head Teacher at Kingwells Primary School, AberdeenAs a head teacher that manages over 50 members of staff, the health and well-being of the children in my school is always front of mind. The introduction of the PVG Scheme will see a more efficient and succinct system put in place to protect children across Scotland. I sit on Aberdeen City Council's Adoption and Permanence panel and see the impact that mis-treatment can have on children, so any scheme that helps to prevent this happening is very dear to me.
“With three children of my own, I understand how important it is for a parent to know that their children are safe and that they trust those charged with their care. The PVG scheme will only add to any parent's peace of mind.
Email the PVG Scheme help service at pvg.enquiries@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Call the PVG Scheme help service on 0870 609 6006.
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