Published: 21/08/24

As many of our colleagues begin their new roles, we’ve seen a rise in questions about the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme. To help you navigate this process, we’ve put together an overview and provided resources to ensure you're fully informed and compliant.

How to Apply for PVG: Applying for PVG is straightforward, but it’s essential that you do so promptly if you haven’t already. As a newly qualified or foundation training year pharmacist of a CPS member pharmacy, we (Community Pharmacy Scotland) offer you a free administrative service to help you disclose as part of the PVG Scheme.

Here are the steps for newly qualified and foundation training year pharmacists:

Before you can proceed to complete your application, there are some important pieces of information that you require before CPS can countersign any application.

• Name of employer / organisation that you will be working for (without this we cannot proceed with the application).
  Please note: CPS is unable to countersign any applications if you are going to be working for Boots UK Ltd as they carry out their own process.

• Current PVG disclosure: Do you have a PVG scheme record? If so, have you been disclosed for both adults and children previously? Please see our handy PVG terminology guide for the different types of certificates you may have.

• If you are unsure if you have had a PVG before, or have lost your current certificate, (Scotland Only) please contact Disclosure Scotland personally either by email or telephone, as due to GDPR Community Pharmacy Scotland cannot do this on your behalf.

  The contact details are:

  Tel: 0300 020 0040
  Email: response@disclosurescotland.gov.scot

• Reminder: if you are changing employers and will still be working with the same group as previously disclosed (Children & Adults) then you will have to complete a scheme record update to reflect the name of your new employer/organisation.

• See our Guide to Terminology for details on what to do if you currently only hold a DBS certificate issued in England.

• If you are paying for your own application, the payment details can be found in the application form below.

This application form has been adapted by CPS for you to complete and contains all the information that you need to send us. CPS will then process the application and submit to Disclosure Scotland. You should then receive an email from Disclosure Scotland with a link to complete your application.

Please note: after the CPS application you will receive an email with a link from Disclosure Scotland to register for a Scot Account, when this is processed you will then be able to view your certificate/ result through this account, this link is only valid for 14 days, if you do not complete your part of the application within this timeframe it will expire, and we will need to submit our countersignature part again.

We have created some guidance documents on how to complete your application via the link Disclosure Scotland will send you. You can find this guidance here

Background Information

What is the PVG Scheme? The PVG scheme is managed by Disclosure Scotland and is designed to protect vulnerable groups by ensuring that those who work with them are not barred from doing so. It is a legal requirement for anyone working with children or protected adults in Scotland to be a member of the PVG scheme.

Why is PVG Important? The scheme helps safeguard vulnerable groups by preventing individuals who are considered a risk from gaining access to them through employment. Membership in the PVG scheme ensures that you can work with children and/or protected adults, offering peace of mind to both employers and those receiving care.

• Scheme Record: this is the first application you will complete if you have never had a PVG before and is also called an Application to Join.

• Short Scheme Record/Scheme Record Update: if you are changing your employer(s) and will still be working with the same group (adults and children) then this is the type of certificate you apply for.

• If you hold a Scheme Record Statement, this type of certificate cannot be updated, so you would have to apply for an Application to Join.

• If you hold a Short Scheme Record but have only been disclosed for adults or children only, then you will have to apply for an Application to Join to cover both groups.

• A DBS certificate is issued in England and if someone holds this, then they will still have to apply to join the PVG Scheme in Scotland, which would be an Application to Join.