Admissions process - Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme

Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme

What is the PVG scheme?

The membership scheme is managed and delivered by Disclosure Scotland. It helps ensure people who are unsuitable to work with children and protected adults cannot do regulated roles with these groups. It’s a legal requirement to join the PVG scheme if you’re going to do a .

When you apply to the scheme Disclosure Scotland carries out criminal record checks. You’ll get a disclosure which shows the results of these checks. Please note that if you have previously received a Level 1 or Level 2 Disclosure certificate this is not sufficient for our course / modules, we will require to create an application for the PVG membership scheme.

Why do I need to join the PVG scheme?

You will need to apply to join the PVG scheme if you will interact with vulnerable groups. For some courses PVG scheme membership is essential and in other courses optional modules/units may require PVG scheme membership. This information will be clearly advertised on the course webpage.

When you apply for PVG scheme membership, a copy of your record will be released to the university or academic partner to which you are applying after you have agreed to share the disclosure result. Failure to share the result may result in removal from the programme. Criminal convictions and any information considered relevant by Disclosure Scotland will be disclosed on the PVG scheme record. The Privacy Notices for Further Education Admissions and Higher Education Admissions have more information about this.

What is the process to join the PVG Scheme?

Step	Description
1	College / University Admin sends email asking for documentation to support the PVG application.
2	Applicant / Student uploads documentation to 含羞草传媒 Applicant Portal / ZendTo (instructions will be given in request email from College / University Admin).
3	College / University Admin checks documentation is valid / suitable.
4	If documentation received is not valid / suitable, College / University Admin will email Applicant / Student for additional documentation.
5	College / University Admin checks documentation is valid / suitable once additional documentation is received.
6	If documentation is valid / suitable, College / University Admin will process on-line application form on Disclosure Scotland portal and will receive a T Number confirmation once submitted (this is a unique reference from Disclosure Scotland).
7	Applicant / Student will receive an auto-email from Disclosure Scotland to create a ScotAccount and including a link to complete the online application form – this to be completed within 14 days of receipt of email before the Disclosure Scotland link expires.
8	Disclosure Scotland will then process the application.
9	If Disclosure Scotland requires additional information, an email is sent to Applicant / Student and a copy is also sent to the College / University Admin.
10	Once the Applicant / Student has provided Disclosure Scotland with the additional information, Disclosure Scotland will then process the application.
11	Disclosure result will then be ready to view.
12	Applicant / Student will receive an email from Disclosure Scotland to advise that the disclosure result is ready to view and share.
13	Applicant / Student to log into ScotAccount and follow instructions to share result with College / University Admin – this to be completed within 14 days before the Disclosure Scotland link expires. If PVG is not shared a new application will require to be submitted at the additional cost to the Applicant / Student.
14	College / University Admin will be advised disclosure result is ready to view and will log into the Disclosure Scotland portal to view this.

Flowchart showing the process for joining the PVG Scheme. Use the button below the image to switch to an accessible text only version

What documentation do I need to provide?

Three documents must be produced to confirm identity:

Photographic (e.g. passport, driving licence, Young Scot card, National Entitlement Card)
Date of Birth (e.g. Birth certificate)
Proof of current home address – this to be dated within the last 3 months (e.g. SQA letter, bank statement, National Insurance letter)

There is a .

Further guidance will be sent in your request email.

Documentation that is not suitable / accepted for PVG

We will not be able to accept the following as suitable to confirm identity for PVG:

Previous PVG / DBS certificate
Proof of address documentation that is more than 3 months old
Driving licence / passport or other documents that has expired / invalid
Using the same document type – for example we will not accept two bank statements as two of the required documents if they are from the same bank.
Documentation that is in another name and / or address – documentation should be in your current full name and address.
Handwritten documents such as handwritten tenancy agreements
Documents that are hard to read / incomplete / blurry / illegible
Letters without official letterhead (unofficial correspondence)

Examples of ID that is accepted

Example of a UK passport that is a specimen which is clear and showing the whole page along with the photo of the person

Passports

Example of a Spanish EU ID Card that is a specimen and shows a clear image of the person along with the details of the ID Card being readable

National Identity Cards

Example of a Young Scot Card that is a specimen and shows a clear image of the person along with the details of the card being readable

Young Scot Cards

Driving Licences

Citizencard

Bank statements

Examples of ID that is not accepted

Light glare

Avoid any light glares that could obscure the information

UK driving licence that is blurry and unreadable

Blurry or out of focus

Ensure everything is in focus

UK Driving Licence where the photo has been taken at an angle and the writing is not legible

Obtuse angles

Ensure the photo is from a top-down angle that allows all information to be visible

UK driving licence where it has been zoomed in and you cannot see the full driving licence in the photo

Cropped out information

Do not crop the image, ensure the entire ID is in view

Bank statement where you cannot see the details of the bank issuing the statement and all transactions have been redacted

Redacted information

Do not redact anything, ensure all information is clearly visible

Hints / Tips for Completing your PVG Application

Things To Do:

Create a ScotAccount – use a personal email and not a work / school email
Use your full name including middle names and write names in full (unless they appear as initials on your birth certificate)
Check for errors
Provide identity documentation in your current name – 3 forms of ID are required, one must be photographic and one must confirm your current address (must be dated within the last 3 months)
If identity documentation is provided in a foreign language – you must provide a translation of that document and it requires to be certified by a Notary Public.
Share your PVG disclosure – when you view your disclosure online, you must share it within 14 days with the college / university to allow the PVG process to be completed. Failure to share your disclosure will result in having to start the PVG process again and incur additional costs to the applicant / student. Please note that we cannot accept a Level 1 or Level 2 Disclosure in place of a PVG scheme membership if you fail to share your PVG disclosure within the allocated time.

Things Not To Do:

Don’t provide false / inaccurate information
Don’t miss the deadline – you have 14 days to complete the application after receiving the email from Disclosure Scotland with the link to apply. If you miss this, we will have to start the PVG process again.
Don’t ignore / delay queries – if you receive an email from Disclosure Scotland with a query on your application, please respond to them as soon as possible.
Don’t use a work / school email address – create your ScotAccount using a personal email address.
Don’t forget to share your disclosure results – you have 14 days from when Disclosure Scotland email you with your results for you to share it with the college / university. Failure to share your disclosure will results in having to start the PVG process again and incur additional cost to the applicant / student as you will have to pay for a second PVG application.

Who pays for the PVG scheme application?

含羞草传媒 below degree level:

Students on courses up to and including HND level have the cost of their application paid for.

含羞草传媒 at degree level and above:

Students meet the costs of their PVG applications, except on courses where there is external support provided (e.g. BSc Nursing).

There are 2 types of Level 2 PVG application that are suitable for courses:

PVG scheme disclosure (Join)
PVG scheme disclosure (Existing)

PVG scheme disclosure (Join)

This is for joining the PVG scheme. It’s also for existing PVG members who want to work with a new vulnerable group. For example, if your membership is for children, but you move to a role working with protected adults too. It costs £59.

PVG scheme disclosure (Existing)

This is for existing PVG members who are continuing to work with the same vulnerable group on their existing membership. It adds an organisation to their membership. It costs £18.

What are the possible outcomes of the PVG scheme application?

You will either be eligible or ineligible to join the PVG scheme. Disclosure Scotland keeps a list of people unsuitable to do regulated work with children and/or protected adults. The lists are separate, although people can be on both lists. If Disclosure Scotland adds someone to one or both of these lists, it is known as being 'listed'. If you are listed you will not be eligible to join the PVG scheme.

Category 1: 含羞草传媒 where PVG Scheme membership is required to successfully achieve target qualification, where there is guaranteed contact with vulnerable groups in key elements of the course. If the applicant/student is listed (i.e. not allowed to work with one or both of the vulnerable groups) the applicant/student will be unable to achieve target qualification and may be unable to enrol or required to leave the course.

Category 2: 含羞草传媒 where PVG Scheme membership is required for specific optional modules/unit(s), where there is guaranteed contact with vulnerable groups in optional module/unit(s), but an alternative pathway exists to achieve target qualification. If the applicant/student is listed (i.e. not allowed to work with one or both of the vulnerable groups) applicant will not be able to enrol on specific optional modules/units.

Criminal Convictions

Having a criminal conviction and being listed is not necessarily the same thing e.g. some people with criminal convictions will be eligible to join the PVG scheme. If you require guidance about criminal convictions and PVG Scheme Membership, please contact .

Where an applicant is not listed but has criminal convictions that are disclosed as part of the PVG Scheme membership process, a risk assessment will be carried out that will ascertain the applicant’s suitability for the course and a future career in the relevant area.

Access to a full range of placement opportunities is subject to the outcome of the PVG Scheme application, which may disclose previous criminal convictions.

If you know that you are listed and wish to know more about options that may be available to you, please contact the University or Academic Partner to which you are applying.

Issues arising during the course

If you become subject to any criminal investigation or are subject to consideration for listing, you should discuss this with a member of staff as soon as possible. Withholding this information may result in you being successful in achieving your target qualification for which you have enrolled or being required to leave the course.

Future employment

If you apply for a job that involves interaction with protected groups, you will have to reapply to the PVG scheme via the new employer. Any future employment is subject to the potential employer’s assessment of the PVG application and is independent of any placements you have undertaken previously.

If you have any questions

Please discuss your concerns with a member of staff at the Academic Partner to which you are applying. The PVG scheme uses complex language and staff are here to help you understand the scheme and how it protects vulnerable people.