Disclosure Scotland (PVG)
Disclosure Scotland and PVG checks for organisations recruiting in Scotland. Secure criminal record screening for safeguarding roles and regulated environments.
Disclosure Scotland & PVG Checks for Employers
Disclosure Scotland is responsible for criminal record checks in Scotland, including disclosures issued through the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme.
For roles involving regulated work with children or protected adults, employers must ensure that individuals are appropriately checked through the PVG scheme before they begin work.
These checks help organisations assess whether individuals are suitable for safeguarding roles and form a key part of safer recruitment frameworks across Scotland.
CBS provides structured Disclosure Scotland and PVG screening for organisations recruiting across the UK. Our secure digital platform enables employers to manage criminal record checks across multiple jurisdictions while maintaining clear oversight and audit-ready records.
Get in Touch
What Is Disclosure Scotland?
Disclosure Scotland is the executive agency of the Scottish Government that provides criminal record checks for individuals living and/or working in Scotland. It provides a range of disclosure products that allow employers to review an individual’s criminal history where legislation permits.
These checks support safer recruitment and safeguarding practices in sectors where individuals work in positions of trust or responsibility.
For many safeguarding roles in Scotland, employers must use the PVG scheme.
Get in Touch What Is the PVG Scheme?
The Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme helps ensure that individuals who are unsuitable to work with vulnerable groups are prevented from doing so.
PVG membership is only applicable to individuals whose roles involve regulated work with children or protected adults. The scheme provides ongoing monitoring and helps organisations identify whether an individual has been barred from working with vulnerable groups.
Employers recruiting for regulated roles must ensure that workers are appropriately checked through the PVG scheme before they begin work.
Get in Touch When Are PVG Checks Required?
PVG checks are required for roles involving regulated work with vulnerable groups.
This commonly includes positions such as:
- Teachers and education staff
- Healthcare professionals
- Social care workers
- Childcare providers
- Youth workers and community support staff
- Residential care staff
Eligibility is determined by the nature of the work being carried out, rather than job titles alone. Employers must ensure the correct level of disclosure is requested before recruitment decisions are finalised.
What Information Do PVG Checks Include?
PVG scheme disclosures may include:
- Unspent convictions
- Certain spent convictions
- Certain spent childhood convictions and children’s hearings outcomes
- Any notification requirements (instructions someone must follow if they’re placed on the Sex Offenders Register)
- Unspent cautions (but not a childhood caution)
- Other relevant information held by the police
- That you’re a member of the PVG scheme
- That you’re not barred from working with children or protected adults
- 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. This information helps organisations make safer recruitment decisions and maintain safeguarding compliance.
Recruiting Across the UK
Organisations recruiting across multiple UK jurisdictions must navigate different disclosure systems.
- England & Wales – Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
- Scotland – Disclosure Scotland / PVG Scheme
- Northern Ireland – AccessNI
Organisations recruiting across multiple UK jurisdictions must navigate different criminal record disclosure systems depending on where employees are based.
Our screening platform allows HR and compliance teams to manage DBS checks, PVG disclosures and AccessNI checks through a single structured workflow while ensuring regional legal requirements are met.
This provides clear visibility across screening activity and helps maintain consistent compliance across multi-site or cross-border recruitment.
Learn more about Enhanced DBS Checks or AccessNI Checks.
Common Employer Risks When Requesting PVG Checks
Managing criminal record screening across jurisdictions can introduce compliance risks if processes are inconsistent.
Common issues organisations face include:
- Misunderstanding PVG eligibility requirements
- Requesting incorrect disclosure levels
- Poor documentation for inspection or audit purposes
These risks can be reduced through structured digital workflows and compliance-led screening processes.
Disclosure Scotland Screening Across Regulated Sectors
Disclosure Scotland and PVG checks are commonly required in safeguarding-led environments such as:
- Education and childcare
- Healthcare and NHS services
- Social care providers
- Charities and voluntary organisations
- Government and regulated contractors
- FCA regulated organisations
We work with organisations across these sectors, providing scalable screening infrastructure designed for high-volume recruitment and regulatory oversight.
How Long Do PVG Checks Take?
Processing times vary depending on the type of disclosure and current processing volumes. As a general guide PVG disclosures are typically processed within several working days, although times can vary depending on application complexity and verification requirements. Ensuring application details are accurate helps reduce avoidable delays.
Our solutions guarantee 100% submission rate with zero errors
Disclosure Scotland (PVG) FAQs
DBS checks apply to individuals living and working in England and Wales. PVG checks apply to individuals living and working in Scotland and are administered by Disclosure Scotland.
Individuals carrying out regulated work with children or protected adults in Scotland must join the PVG scheme.
No. Eligibility depends on the nature of the work being carried out and whether the role meets regulated criteria.
A digital disclosure certificate is issued directly to the applicant via their ScotAccount. They will then also have the ability to share their digital certificate with their employer via their account. Employers will also receive application status updates and structured audit records through the CBS platform.
Why Organisations Choose CBS
Organisations choose CBS for:
- UK-wide criminal record screening capability
- Experienced screening specialists providing hands-on support
- Over 1 million checks processed annually
- Structured digital screening workflows
- Real-time application tracking
- ISO 27001 certified processes
- Scalable solutions for high-volume recruitment
- Dedicated compliance support
CBS provides more than criminal record checks. Our secure platform delivers structured screening infrastructure built for organisations operating under safeguarding and regulatory scrutiny. Behind the technology is our experienced screening team providing hands-on guidance to help employers navigate eligibility, safeguarding requirements and complex recruitment decisions with confidence.
Learn more CBS IN NUMBERS
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