Protection of Vulnerable Groups
Quite a few club members have processed enhanced Disclosures over the past year as more club members have either taken part in coaching courses or have become involved with club training and coaching events for youngsters. Obtaining an enhanced Disclosure has been seen as good practice for anyone likely to be in a position of working alone or unsupervised with children.
However a new scheme was implemented on 28th February 2011 which replaces the previous enhanced Disclosure scheme, the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme.
It introduces the concept of ‘regulated’ work. Anyone who works (which includes caring, teaching, instructing, training, supervising, being in sole charge or having unsupervised contact) with children or protected adults will be considered to be carrying out regulated work and will have to be a member of the PVG scheme. A summary of the scheme follows but more information can be found on the Scottish Orienteering website or at PVG Scotland or Disclosure Scotland.
PVG members are continuously monitored for new vetting information, unlike the old Disclosure, which was processed only on information available at time of application. Any information that comes to light which may indicate that a person is unsuitable to do regulated work will lead to a consideration for listing on whichever is appropriate, the children’s list or the adults list. Anyone who is included on these lists is barred from working with that particular group.
Initially, it will only be new volunteers (or employees) engaged in regulated work, who need to join the scheme but, in time, all those doing regulated work (employed or as volunteers) will need to be members of the PVG scheme. Individuals who become members will have a Scheme Record which details any vetting information about an individual, including convictions and relevant non-conviction information. This will be used in much the same way as an enhanced Disclosure. A significant difference will be that the individual’s record will be continuously updated from a range of sources and assessed by Disclosure Scotland. So rather than each new or different situation requiring a separate Disclosure, an update can be applied for.
The improvements offered by the PVG scheme are seen to be as follows:-
- Effective barring: Disclosure Scotland does not just collect vetting information, it also assesses it so that individuals who are considered unsuitable on the basis of vetting information are prevented form entering the workforce (or associated voluntary positions)
- The adults list: A new list of individuals who are unsuitable for working with protected adults. (i.e those aged 16 or over who are provided with a type of care, support or welfare service.)
- Continuous updating: continuing to collect vetting information about an individual after the original disclosure check has been made so that new information indicating that they might be unsuitable can be acted upon.
- Streamlined disclosure processes: recognising that some people have several roles (e.g. a supply teacher and a scout leader in their spare time) and that people move and change jobs over time
- Access to disclosure for personal employers: they can check that the person they are seeking to employ is not unsuitable, e.g. a parent employing a sports coach for their child or someone buying a care service directly.
The PVG scheme form requires similar information and identity checks as the previous enhanced Disclosure form did.
It is envisaged that employees will be charged a fee for membership and updates in the scheme but that volunteers doing regulated work for qualifying voluntary organizations will have membership and updates free of charge.
The information contained on an individual’s Scheme Record is sensitive and personal. As before, organizations and employers cannot share disclosure information without that individual’s consent. Access to the Scheme record and Scheme record update can only be through a registered body. Anyone requiring to register with the scheme (i.e. someone who needs one for ‘work’ with the club, but does not have a Disclosure that is less than 5 years old) should contact Gill.
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