If I have concerns - what can I do?

If you are worried about the behaviour of someone who works with children you should do something about it.  Trust your instincts. Abuse can happen when an adult turns a blind eye to what is happening.  Don't ignore your gut feeling.

If a child is in immediate danger you should contact the police

If there is no immediate risk you can

 - Contact the person in charge of the organisation who employs the person i.e. if it involved a teacher you can contact the head teacher or local education authority. Our section "For Professionals" may help you.

 - Contact your local children and families social work department

 - Contact the Police on 101

 - Call Parentline Scotland on 0800 028 2233

Stop It Now! Scotland are also available for support and advice.

If the person concerned is employed to work with children or vulnerable adults they will be part of the PVG scheme.

The scheme is described below but it is very important to remember that the PVG scheme is only a record of information held by the authorities. We know that only around 20% of child sexual abuse is reported so it is likely that the majority of those who offend against children would not be known.

Use common sense. If a person's behaviour is of concern, PVG membership is not a safety guarantee.

Look at the 'warning signs' section of this website.

The Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme

What Is the PVG Scheme?

The Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) membership scheme is managed and delivered by Disclosure Scotland. It helps to make sure that people whose behaviour makes them unsuitable to work with children and/or protected adults can't work with these vulnerable groups. It is relevant to any individual involved in Regulated Work.

One of the main features of the scheme is that it involves continuous updating. If an individual is registered with Disclosure Scotland and they commit a relevant offence, PVG is updated and safeguards can be put in place.  Other disclosure methods only provide a certificate which, similar to a car MOT, is only relevant for the day the check was made.

If the courts, police, regulatory bodies or previous employers provide information to Disclosure Scotland which suggests someone may be unsuitable for regulated work, this will trigger a consideration for listing.

If Disclosure Scotland decides that someone's unsuitable to do regulated work with vulnerable groups, they'll bar them from working with children and/or protected adults, and inform their current employers. They'll also remove them from the PVG Scheme and tell any other employers listed on their record that they have been barred

The PVG scheme is important because in Scotland it is an offence to employ/engage anyone in Regulated Work who has been barred from working with Children. It is also an offence for a barred person to seek Regulated work.

What is regulated work?

The PVG Scheme doesn't apply to all jobs and volunteering. It only applies to 'regulated work'. There are 2 types of regulated work – work with children and work with protected adults. Regulated work is usually jobs including:

  - providing personal services to children and/or protected adults

  - caring responsibilities

  - teaching or supervising children and/or protected adults

  - working directly with children and/or protected adults

There are many kinds of roles, both paid and unpaid, such as nurse, child minder, girl guide leader, dentist etc.

It can also apply to certain positions of trust within organisations, even where the role doesn't involve any direct contact with children or protected adults. Examples of this include:

- membership of certain council committees

- trustees of charities focused on children

- trustees of charities focused on protected adults

Some employers, like aid agencies, send staff or volunteers to provide care and education, for example, to people in countries outside the UK. These employers can apply to have an individual PVG-checked when that work, if done in Scotland, would be considered to be 'regulated work'.

For further information:

Disclosure Scotland - phone 03000 200 040

Not everyone who works for a charity or voluntary organisation will need to be a member of the PVG scheme. If you are a member of a voluntary organisation you can get help and advice about PVG by contacting Volunteer Scotland - phone 01786 849 777.