Goal 1
The PVG scheme is modern, responsive, proportionate and delivers a major contribution to high-quality safeguarding across Scotland.
We want a safer Scotland for us all. One that supports people to thrive but also lets them trust that they, their friends and family members are protected when accessing services.
Safeguarding is our core purpose.
The PVG scheme accounts for over 50% of disclosure and 95% of barring activities. It is our main service for delivering our core purpose.
Unlike other disclosure services in the UK, the PVG scheme uses ongoing monitoring to continuously track an individual's suitability to work with children or protected adults.
By providing high-quality and timely PVG services, we can take quick and effective action to protect the people of Scotland.
With the legislative and digital foundations now in place, we will focus on improving how we operate the scheme and its impact over the next four years.
We will focus on four main themes to achieve this goal:
- PVG 1: The PVG scheme is proportionate and representative of the regulated workforce in Scotland.
- PVG 2: Services are modern, fast and integrated.
- PVG 3: Members and stakeholders are active and engaged.
- PVG 4: Decisions are proportionate, fair, balanced and timely.
PVG 1
The PVG scheme is proportionate and representative of the regulated workforce in Scotland.
This will allow us and our partners to provide safe and proportionate monitoring across Scotland’s regulated workforce. It will have a far-reaching impact on the future sustainability of the PVG scheme and our National Barring Service for Scotland.
PVG 2
Services are modern, fast and integrated.
We will continue to evolve our services to be even more efficient and effective.
This includes:
- communications
- outreach and engagement
- applications and results
- records administration
- ongoing monitoring referrals
- offence and barring investigations
We will achieve this by providing fully digital customer journeys. We will move our remaining paper-based services to our new online account service, including improving the customer account to support the five-year PVG scheme membership.
We will also integrate safeguarding and case management across our services on our processing platform. This will streamline processes and increase automation to improve our services.
PVG 3
Members and stakeholders are active and engaged.
By 2030, we will further strengthen partnerships that support shared outcomes.
The success of our engagement with our customers and stakeholders is crucial to our safeguarding objective.
Our National Barring Service and disclosure services need all parts of the system to clearly understand their roles, responsibilities and processes.
Our engagement, training, communications and advisory services are critical to this, as are the digital elements that underpin these.
PVG 4
Decisions are proportionate, fair, balanced and timely.
By 2030 we will deliver an even more proportionate and efficient barring regime.
Barring decisions must continue to be well made and defensible. We must continue to make sure that the right evidence has been gathered, assessed and considered in every case, regardless of the end decision. We will also improve how our National Barring Service takes cases forward, enhancing the service for users and the organisation.
PVG scheme
At the heart of safeguarding in Disclosure Scotland.
A fast, digital service.
A legal requirement for those working in and employing people in regulated roles.
A five-year PVG scheme membership.
A reliable system that continuously checks an individual’s suitability to work in a regulated role.