Date set for PVG Scheme commencement
The PVG Scheme is to go live on 28 February 2011, Children's Minister, Adam Ingram announced today.
The scheme had been due to commence at the end of November 2010 but Ministers took the decision to postpone its introduction to ensure the system which supports it is fully fit for purpose and robust.
Mr Ingram said:
"I have been assured by the PVG Scheme Programme Board that the system's development is now on track and have agreed that the scheme will commence on 28 February 2011 - delivering increased protection, alongside efficiency savings and less bureaucracy."
Employers will be sent supplies of the new PVG Scheme application forms soon and be kept up to date with progress. A comprehensive package of training and guidance is already available from Disclosure Scotland and - for voluntary organisations - from the Central Registered Body in Scotland.
PVG Scheme Help Service
Tel: 0870 609 6006
Email: pvg.enquiries@scotland.gsi.go.uk
News Release, 12 January 2011
"Precautionary Principle" sees PVG Scheme postponed
The introduction of the PVG Scheme has been postponed until February 2011 to ensure the system which supports it is as robust as it can be before it goes live.
Children's Minister, Adam Ingram, announced the postponement today (3 November 2010) following advice from the PVG Scheme Programme Board.
The scheme had been scheduled to go live on 30 November 2010.
Announcing the delay at the Scottish Parliament's Education Committee, Mr Ingram said:
"The system of background checks for those who have access to vulnerable people, including our children, has to be as robust as possible. Our current system is very good and the new system will be even better. However, given how important this protection is, in making a change, the precautionary principle must apply. Therefore before we move to a new system, we must ensure that it is completely robust and able to deliver the improvements we want.
"The PVG Scheme programme board has advised that there remains some work to do to ensure that the new IT system that supports the scheme is fully fit for purpose and that's why I have taken the decision to postpone implementation."
The PVG Scheme is now expected to commence during February 2011 and an exact date will be announced by the end of 2010.
In the meantime, the current service of enhanced disclosure for people who work with vulnerable groups will continue.
To access Disclosure Scotland's services, employers should continue to use the existing application forms. Employers requiring more application forms should contact Disclosure Scotland as normal. Voluntary organisations can contact the Central Registered Body in Scotland as normal.
PVG Scheme Help Service
Tel: 0870 609 6006
Email: pvg.enquiries@scotland.gsi.go.uk.
News release, 3 November 2010
Scottish Parent Teacher Council Claims
On 25 October, the SPTC claimed that the PVG Scheme is disproportionate. A letter from Adam Ingram, Minister for Children and Early Years was published in The Scotsman on 27 October to correct this.
The PVG Scheme only applies to people who work with children and protected adults. It does not apply to parents helping their children and to personal arrangements that parents may make with friends and family to look after their child.
A comprehensive package of guidance and training materials to help employers understand the scope of the PVG Scheme is available and this includes materials to help employers determine which posts will require PVG Scheme membership. More information for parents is available on the Parentzone website.
PVG Scheme Advertising
In the run up to the PVG Scheme commencing on 30 November 2010, to complement ongoing communications activities, adverts will run in the Scottish press, on local radio and online from 5 September until the end of November. Poster versions - A3 and A4 - of the adverts are available for display. If you would like copies of the poster to display in your organisation, call the PVG Scheme Help Service on 0870 609 6006 or email pvg.enquiries@scotland.gsi.gov.uk.
Go Live Date Announced
The PVG Scheme will commence on 30 November 2010. It will be phased in over four years to minimise the administrative burden on employers. Read more.
News release, 29 June 2010
Review of Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS) covering England, Wales and Northern Ireland
The Scottish Government welcomes the review of the Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS). This provides an opportunity to bring the VBS closer to the PVG Scheme in scope and proportionality.
The Scottish Government is proceeding as planned to implement the PVG Scheme which has been the subject of extensive consultation and engagement with people who work with children and protected adults in Scotland. Their continued interest and views have helped the Scottish Government to shape a system that strikes the balance between robust regulation and proportionate protection, without compromising on the need to minimise bureaucracy. The PVG Scheme only applies to people who work with vulnerable groups and it does not apply to personal arrangements that people make with friends or family, or to work positions where there is no opportunity to cause harm to vulnerable groups.
The PVG Scheme will be phased in over a four year period to ensure that the administrative burden on groups and organisations that work with vulnerable groups is minimised. It will commence on 30 November 2010.
Consultation Response Published
The Scottish Government published its response to the Consultation on Significant Draft Scottish Statutory Instruments, draft guidance and Regulatory Impact Assessment on 23 April 2010.
Regulatory Impact Assessment Published
The Scottish Government published the final Regulatory Impact Assessment for PVG secondary legislation on 23 April 2010.
Publication of draft secondary legislation and guidance
A consultation on the key elements of the secondary legislation required to implement the PVG Scheme was published on 10 November 2009. Also published for consultation is the draft guidance to enable stakeholders to comment on its structure and format.
News release, 10 November 2009
Visiting Authors in Schools and the PVG Scheme - July 2009
Several prominent children's authors have recently spoken out about the Vetting and Barring Scheme which will come into force in England and Wales later this year. There is no equivalent change to legislation in Scotland this year.
The Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme, which will be implemented in Scotland in 2010, is designed to protect vulnerable groups from those who might do them harm through access to them through their normal duties in work.
However, for the scheme to be efficient and effective, it must be targeted at the right people and striking the balance between proportionate protection and robust regulation is vital. The Scottish Government and its partners are examining aspects of the scope of regulated work to ensure a proportionate approach is taken.
Each type of activity with children needs to be considered in context. It will not be the case that every visiting author to Scottish schools has to join the scheme. It will depend upon factors relating to the particular management arrangements the school had made for the visit and what activities the visitor is expected to carry out, for example in a supervisory role with the children.
The Scottish Government will be consulting with a range of interested parties during the drafting of further legislation in this area due to be laid in Parliament in 2010.
Information Events - June 2009 - Update
In June 2009, the Scottish Government hosted a series of eight information events to bring organisations up to speed with implementation activities and provide an opportunity to consider and discuss aspects of the PVG Scheme. The events were attended by around 1300 people from organisations that are registered with Disclosure Scotland, have a regulatory role, or that represent groups and/or organisations that work with vulnerable groups.
Here are the presentations which were delivered at each event.
Issues recorded at each event are being considered in relation to the drafting of relevant Scottish Statutory Instruments and the guidance. Online FAQs have been updated to reflect, as far as possible, the range of questions asked.
Publication of Response to Consultation on Policy Proposals for Secondary Legislation
The Scottish Government has published the response to the analysis of the consultation on policy proposals for secondary legislation.
News Release, 6 October 2008
Analysis of Consultation on Policy Proposals for Secondary Legislation
The Scottish Government has published a detailed analysis of the consultation on policy proposals for secondary legislation required to deliver a robust vetting and barring scheme that will keep people who would harm children or protected adults out of relevant employment positions. The analysis attracted 199 responses and takes into account information gathered from over 1000 people who attended a series of consultation events.
News Release, 27 June 2008
Protecting Vulnerable Groups Conference, 22 October 2007
Minister for Children and Early Years, Adam Ingram delivered the keynote speech at a Holyrood Events Conference on protecting vulnerable groups on 22 October 2007. The Minister provided an audience of nearly 300 professionals with an overview of how the new PVG Scheme will work and highlighted the Scottish Government's commitment to engaging widely with stakeholders on the secondary legislation required to implement the scheme.