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About Disclosure Scotland

Last updated
14 Oct 2022

Disclosure Scotland helps employers make safer decisions when they're recruiting people.

It also makes sure unsuitable people do not work with vulnerable groups, including children and protected adults.

What it does

Disclosure Scotland checks and shares information about people's criminal records.

You can apply to Disclosure Scotland for a disclosure. This shows details of the convictions you have. It includes other information too, depending on the type of disclosure. 

Organisations can use disclosures to help decide if you're right for the role you're applying for.

Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme

Disclosure Scotland manages the PVG scheme. This is a membership scheme for people who work with children or protected adults.

It helps ensure that people who are unsuitable to work with these groups cannot do this type of work. Disclosure Scotland keeps a list of people who are barred from working with children and protected adults. 

Acts and legislation

There are laws which govern how Disclosure Scotland works, including:

You can find out more about how this legislation relates to disclosure.

The Age of Criminal Responsibility (Scotland) Act 2019 also affects disclosure. This act means some people do not have to disclose information about how they behaved before they were 12. 

Changes to the disclosure system

The Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 aims to make the disclosure process in Scotland simpler and easier to understand.

Some of the changes in the act include:

  • mandatory PVG scheme membership for people doing regulated roles with children and protected adults
  • an end to lifetime PVG membership, which will be replaced with a 5 year membership period
  • a decrease in the number of disclosure levels

You can find out more about the act on our guide.

The changes are not in effect yet. Disclosure Scotland is going through a period of implementation to develop its processes and prepare organisations for the changes.

Service Level Agreement

Disclosure Scotland works within a Service Level Agreement. This is an official promise to work to a certain level.

Its Service Level Agreement is to send 90% of disclosure certificates within 14 days (as long as the application was completed correctly and there are no further enquiries).

This is measured from the day it receives the application to the day the certificate is sent.

How Disclosure Scotland is managed

Disclosure Scotland is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government. It runs on behalf of Scottish Ministers. Its Chief Executive reports to the Minister for Children and Young People.

Disclosure Scotland's Board provides support and advice to the Chief Executive on:

  • business priorities
  • performance
  • budget
  • risk

Publications

There are a number of publications that give you more information about Disclosure Scotland.

Framework Document

Sets out the vision and objectives of Disclosure Scotland.

Corporate Plan

Sets out how Disclosure Scotland will change its services between 2021 and 2025.

Annual report and accounts

Gives the most recent report on Disclosure Scotland's finances.

Business plan

Explains the key objectives for 2022/23 and how Disclosure Scotland will achieve them.

Procurement Strategy

Sets out how Disclosure Scotland will plan and manage its procurement processes 2017 to 2022.

Procurement Annual Report

Reports on Disclosure Scotland's procurement activity.

Register of Interests

Record of the financial interests of Disclosure Scotland's executive, non-executive and independent members.

Board minutes

Gives the details of the latest board meetings.

Audit and Risk Committee minutes

Gives the details of the latest committee meetings.

Corporate Parenting Plan

Explains Disclosure Scotland's commitment to Corporate Parenting.

Report of the Independent Reviewer

Report of the independent reviewer under the Age of Criminal Responsibility (Scotland) Act 2019.

Communications and Engagement Strategy

Sets out how Disclosure Scotland will plan and manage its approach to communications and engagement from 2022 to 2025.

Data protection

Disclosure Scotland is fully committed to compliance with the Data Protection Act 2018. Read more about Disclosure Scotland's privacy policy.

Race equality commitment

Disclosure Scotland has pledged to follow the race equality recommendations made by Scottish Parliament to the public sector.

Your feedback

Disclosure Scotland welcomes your feedback. It takes complaints seriously and will respond fully to any concerns you raise. You can:

Media enquiries

Media enquiries should be sent by email to DSwebteam@disclosurescotland.gov.scot. This includes requests for:

  • statements
  • interviews
  • speeches
  • statistics

Disclosure Scotland does not run an out of hours media service. The opening hours are Monday to Thursday 9am to 4pm, and Friday 9am to 3:30pm.

Enquiries received outside of these times will be responded to as soon as possible the following working day.

If you're not a member of the media and you want to contact Disclosure Scotland, email response@disclosurescotland.gov.scot

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