Guidance and Resources

A visual guide of the full online application journey and responsibilities for the Voluntary Organisation, Volunteer Scotland Disclosure Services (VSDS), Volunteer/Applicant and Disclosure Scotland.

Application Resources

Online Application Journey

Last Reviewed: April 2025

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Online PVG Application Process Guidance Pack

Last Reviewed: August 2026

This Guidance Pack details the stages of the Online PVG Application Process. All organisations must read through the guidance pack and familiarise themselves with the full process before submitting their online request form.

This Guidance Pack details the stages of the Level 2 Online PVG Application Process. All organisations must read through the guidance pack and familiarise themselves with the full process before submitting their online request form.

Level 2 Online Application Process Guidance Pack

Last Reviewed: August 2026

Regulatory Body Codes for PVG.

Regulatory Body Codes

Last Reviewed: August 2026

The sample disclosure tracking form is a useful tool for your organisation to keep track of applications sent to us. This excel spread sheet lets you collate the important information such as the applicants name, barcode number and date posted to our office.

Sample Disclosure Tracking Form

Last Reviewed: July 2026

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PVG Disclosure Process FAQs

Last Reviewed: August 2026

Got questions about PVG scheme disclosures? Our new FAQ guide covers everything from choosing the right disclosure level and understanding PVG application types, to tracking application progress and resolving common issues with online and offline applications. It also explains responsibilities for organisations and applicants, processing times, and guidance for under-16 applicants. Check the FAQs first to find quick answers and helpful resources before contacting our team.

An e-course designed by Disclosure Scotland to guide applicants through the steps of their online PVG journey. Sharing this course with applicants before they begin the process ensures they are prepared and understand what is expected of them.

Applicants Online Journey

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Duty to Refer

Duty to Refer and Sample Policy

Last Reviewed: September 2026

This document provides guidance and a sample policy on making referrals. It covers the background, terminology of ‘harm’ and ‘removed’ and the process of making referrals.

With the PVG scheme there is no requirement to re-check applicants for the organisation, however, this is still an option. This guidance will help you decide if this is something your organisation would like to implement.

Recruitment Resources

On-going regular checks under PVG

Last Reviewed: September 2026

From April 1st, 2025, the minimum age at which those who are doing regulated roles can join the PVG scheme is set at age 16.

Recruiting under 16's into Regulated Roles

Last Reviewed: September 2026

Guidance on the rules of self-disclosure in relation to previous convictions and alternatives to prosecution under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 in Scotland.

Rehabilitation Periods Guidance

Last Reviewed: September 2026

This page answers the most frequently asked questions about the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020, based on queries raised ahead of its implementation on 1 April 2025.

Regulated Role Guidance

Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 FAQs

Last Reviewed: June 2025

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Holding a Position of Responsibility - Regulated Role Guidance

Last Reviewed: September 2026

This guidance relates to your assessment of whether your Directors, Board members, Committee members and Charity Trustees are in a regulated role with children and/or protected adults.

Regulated Roles Checklist Children will guide you through the assessment steps to determine if a role/position within your organisation required a PVG Scheme. Please download this checklist and return to us prior to submitting PVG applications.

Regulated Roles Checklist Children

Last Reviewed: September 2026

Regulated Roles Checklist Protected Adults will guide you through the assessment steps to determine if a role/position within your organisation required a PVG Scheme. Please download this checklist and return to us prior to submitting PVG applications.

Regulated Roles Checklist Protected Adults

Last Reviewed: September 2026

This guidance is intended to help organisations in foster care decide which types of roles require PVG scheme membership, and when other types of disclosure are available.

Guidance for Foster Carers

Disclosure Scotland have published the following Regulated Roles guidance to provide information on the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 and to help you assess your role(s) within your organisation.

Regulated roles guidance

Disclosure Scotland guidance for parent run groups such as Parent Councils and Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs), and the roles, activities and events they run and are responsible for.

Guidance for parent run groups

Disclosure Scotland guidance for health sector groups, such as hospices and hospitals. This guidance is intended to help organisations in the health service make informed decisions on what types of roles requires PVG scheme membership.

Guidance for the health sector

This guide is for organisations providing sports services and activities, including Scottish Governing Bodies of Sport (SGBs) and clubs. This guidance is intended to help organisations in the sport sector make informed decisions on what types of roles requires PVG scheme membership.

Guidance for the sport sector

Disclosure Scotland have published new guidance on the PVG scheme and Developing the Young Workforce.

PVG scheme and Developing the Young Workforce

This resource outlines the Exempted Question which employers are not normally entitled to ask in relation to a person’s criminal history. It also includes a link to Disclosure Scotland's Code of Practice.

The Exempted Question & Code of Practice

Last Reviewed: September 2026

Please use this online form if your organisation has volunteers/paid staff who no longer carry out regulated role with your organisation.

Removal of Interest Form

Complete Online Form here

Sample Policies and Related Guidance

Barred and Under Consideration for Listing Guidance and Policy

Last Reviewed: September 2026

The guidance provides information and a sample policy regarding applicants who are barred or under consideration for listing. It details what it means to be barred or under consideration, how it should be dealt with and a sample policy for you to use.

The Self-Declaration policy sets out what previous conviction information you can ask about and what an applicant has to tell you and also not tell you. This allows you to discuss any relevant information earlier and compare the information given to you against their disclosure information. Also included are links to the lists of convictions which have longer rehabilitation periods than normal owing to the application being at a higher level.

Recruiting with Convictions Sample Policy with Self-Disclosure

Last Reviewed: September 2026

All organisations are required by the Code of Practice to have a secure handling policy in place to detail how disclosure information will be handled, used, stored and destroyed/deleted.

Secure Handling of Disclosure Information Guidance and Policy

Last Reviewed: September 2026