PVG scheme membership requirements for Personal Assistants (Self Directed Support)

The Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme of the Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013 Statutory Guidance has been amended to bring it in line with a new law introduced on 1 April 2025, the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 (the 2020 Act) which now makes it a legal requirement for Personal Assistants (PA's) (solely in the context of self directed support arrangements) to join the PVG scheme.

From 1 April 2025 it will be a legal requirement for Personal Assistants to join the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme. 

  • It is the Personal Assistant, and not the Employer, who is responsible for ensuring they are signed up to the PVG scheme
  • It is the Personal Assistant, and not the Employer, who is accountable if they continue to work as a Personal Assistant  after 1 April 2025 without joining the scheme.

 

Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG)

The Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme has existed in Scotland since 2011. It is managed by Disclosure Scotland and helps make sure that people who are unsuitable to work with children and protected adults cannot work with these vulnerable groups.

If you get a job working with vulnerable people, including as a Personal Assistant, your employer may ask you to join the Protecting Vulnerable Groups scheme.  If you are already in the Protecting Vulnerable Groups scheme for another reason, your employer may still ask you for a statement confirming your Protecting Vulnerable Groups scheme membership.

Disclosure Scotland carries out criminal record checks when you apply to the Protecting Vulnerable Groups scheme. It can share the results of these checks with you and, in some circumstances, your employer directly. Your employer can use this information to help decide if you are suitable for the role you're applying for.

 

Exceptions 

There are exceptions for Personal Assistants who are carrying out the role as part of a family or personal relationship. These are:

  • Where the Personal Assistant is carrying out the role as part of a family relationship. This typically means a direct family member, such as a parent, child, aunt or uncle, who is a Personal Assistant for their direct relative, will not need to be a Protecting Vulnerable Groups  scheme member. This remains true even if they receive money for this. A 'family relationship' can also include a relationship between two people who live in the same household and treat each other as though they were members of the same family.
  • Where the Personal Assistant is carrying out the role as part of a personal relationship and where there is no commercial gain for the Personal Assistant. For example, they are not being paid to work as a Personal Assistant.

 

You can find out more details on the updates:

Self- Directed Support - Information on PVG for Personal Assistants (opens new window)

Self- Directed Support - Information on PVG for Employers (opens new window)