DS30

A strategy for shaping a safer Scotland

As an executive agency of the Scottish Government, we contribute to improving the lives of the people of Scotland. 

Our vision is for a safe, fair and inclusive Scotland. We remain committed to maximising the value of the disclosure and barring system in Scotland. To do this we will:

• put safeguarding at our core
• work seamlessly with all parts of Scotland’s public protection system

We recognise the need to balance this with fairness, proportionality and the right to rehabilitation.

Our purpose is to provide the highest quality of disclosure, barring and ongoing monitoring services in a way that promotes safeguarding and fairness. This will help people to both access and progress in their work, while keeping others safe when using those services. 

We do this through the interconnected nature of disclosure checks, the PVG scheme and the National Barring Service for Scotland. Together, our policies and services balance the need for safeguarding with recognition that people can move on from past behaviour.

The National Barring Service for Scotland serves to stop unsuitable people from accessing opportunities to work in regulated roles with children or protected adults. It also assesses and provides barring information to employers, education providers and voluntary, organisations. This helps organisations and employers to make informed recruitment decisions, while promoting fairness to improve the life chances of people in Scotland.

The faster we deliver our services, the more accessible we make them. The more integrated we become across the wider safeguarding, employment, voluntary and recruitment landscapes, the better the social and economic outcomes.