PVG scheme – activities provided by external organisations
This guidance is for scenarios where an individual from an external organisation is doing a regulated role at another organisation’s premises, such as a school or hospital.
External organisations working in other locations
An organisation’s activities can sometimes take place in another organisation’s premises. For example, it could be a:
- religious organisation supporting faith-based activities in classrooms
- local group providing breakfast clubs in schools
- charity working in hospitals
In these scenarios, it’s the external organisation’s responsibility to ensure that:
- the individual is a PVG scheme member for the group(s) they will be working with
- they've received a PVG scheme disclosure before the individual starts the role
Even if the individual is also an employee or volunteer where the work is taking place, the external organisation must complete its own PVG scheme check. This is because the individual is doing the regulated role for the external organisation.
As the external organisation is responsible for assessing the individual’s suitability for a regulated role, no other organisation or individual can:
- ask the individual for a PVG scheme disclosure for that role
- ask the volunteer or employee to share their PVG scheme disclosure
It’s against the law to ask for a PVG scheme disclosure if you’re not entitled to it.
What host organisations can do
Host organisations can ensure that any external organisation engaging in activities on their premises are carrying out appropriate checks. They can ask the external organisation to confirm the safeguarding processes and policies that they follow.
Example 1
John is a volunteer working with a faith group to support children in schools to explore their faith. The faith group must complete a PVG scheme check for John before allowing him to do this work.
No other organisation is allowed to do a PVG scheme check. However, the school can ask the faith group to confirm the safeguarding processes that they follow.
Example 2
Sarah is employed by a children’s charity to provide counselling for children in hospitals across health boards in Scotland. She is also a doctor employed by a health board.
The charity must complete a PVG scheme check before allowing her to do the counselling role. The NHS health board who employs Sarah must also complete a check before allowing her to do the doctor role.
No other health boards are allowed to do a PVG scheme check as they do not employ her to do any regulated roles.