The Protection of Vulnerable Groups Scheme (PVGS) is a service offered by Disclosure Scotland to enable organisations in the public, private and Voluntary sectors to make more informed decisions when recruiting for regulated work involving vulnerable people. [1] [2] It achieves this by analysing individuals criminal records. [3]
It is similar to the Disclosure and Baring Service in England and Wales.
There are 4 different types of disclosure record available under the PVGS:
A PVGS member's certificate only shows information available on the date of the check, however the scheme continuously monitors individuals, receiving updates through Disclosure Scotland whenever a scheme member is convicted of an offence.
It is, however, advised that organisations should seek updates on their staff's PVGS membership status every three years. [5]
The PVGS was introduced in response to the Bichard report which was undertaken after the Soham murders in 2002. [6] As recommended by the report the scheme involves continuous updating into its checks. It came into full force in February 2011. [7]