The Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme [1] was established by the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 (the PVG Act) [2]. The two vulnerable groups covered by the PVG scheme are children and protected adults. A child is defined as an individual aged under 18 years. All adults are defined as protected adults while receiving dental treatment.
The PVG scheme introduced the concept of regulated work1 [3] for those working with children and protected adults. All dental professionals that provide clinical care are considered to undertake regulated work and must therefore be a member of the PVG scheme.
If an individual is considered unsuitable to do regulated work with children and/or protected adults, they are added to the PVG Children's list or PVG Adult's list and are not eligible for PVG scheme membership. This is known as being "listed" [4].
In 2011, the PVG scheme introduced continuous monitoring of an individual and coordinated it with other regulated work/activities1 that the individual may undertake.
In April 2025, the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme became a legal requirement as part of the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 [5] and some amendments to the scheme were introduced.
From 1 April 2026, lifetime membership of the PVG scheme will end and will be replaced with a 5-year membership that must be renewed every 5 years.
It is an offence for an employer to knowingly recruit a barred individual (i.e. an individual who is on the PVG Children’s list and/or the PVG Adult's list) to undertake a regulated role. A PVG scheme membership certificate issued by Disclosure Scotland is the only way for an employer to confirm that an individual is not barred from undertaking a regulated role.
The General Dental Council recommends dental professionals keep up to date by undertaking Continuing Professional Development in safeguarding children and young people, and safeguarding vulnerable adults.
1 In April 2025, the concept of "regulated work" was replaced with "regulated roles".
Staff in a regulated role
Since February 2011, it has been necessary for new clinical staff undertaking a regulated role to join the PVG scheme to demonstrate to their employer that they are not barred from working with children and protected adults. See Applying for PVG scheme membership.
Staff not in a regulated role
Receptionists and practice managers are not employed in regulated roles and therefore not eligible for PVG scheme membership. However, as these staff members have access to patients in receipt of a healthcare service, they are eligible for Level 2 Disclosure (previously known as Standard Disclosure) [6]. Other staff who have no access to patients are not eligible for Level 2 Disclosure. In this situation, Level 1 Disclosure (previously known as Basic Disclosure) may be applied for. However this is not a mandatory requirement.
Ensure that all staff who undertake regulated roles are members of the PVG scheme by applying for and obtaining a copy of their Scheme Record, or, for an existing PVG member, their Scheme Record Update (Short Scheme Record).
Arrange Level 2 Disclosure (previously known as Standard Disclosure) for staff who have access to patients but are not undertaking regulated roles.