Scotland PVG checks, feeling like a feminist issue?

You haven’t mentioned the 3 hour Child Welfare and Protection course you may need to do if helping out at a club.
So sometimes the course is longer than the volunteering stint.
How to put off volunteers!

It really is a shambles. I volunteer as a judge for a sport. In my judging capacity I have zero direct contact with children, at all. I attend the sporting event and might chat to the kids from my/DD’s team, but when I’m judging I am sitting at the judges table surrounded by 8 other adults, and all competitors are accompanied by coaches. These are public events, so although I could encounter children in the toilets etc, so could any random who buys a ticket. There is no need for me to have a PVG, and the process to get it was ridiculously slow and convoluted. Apparently even though I had had one before and provided a photo of my old certificate, they couldn’t find it so my original application to update was cancelled and I had to start again. Oh, and at one point I was on hold on the helpline and it hit 3.45 on a Friday and the phone line went dead automatically. FFS.

PTA isn’t the same as school. And the library is coordinated through the parents so it’s different again. The thing is I am never alone with children in any of these contexts so it’s still confusing.

In theory, yes. In practice the system is a shambles. And that is before you even consider the issues either changing name or falsifying your sex.

The portability is the check not the record. If registered on a central database then it should be very straightforward to alert all organisations registered against your name should an incident occur - like they do in England with DBS checks.

Actually I’m pretty happy we are so much more vigilant checking out volunteers and keeping kids safe.

I’m a volunteer with 2 pvgs.

No im not. I think there’s a difference between my PVG lasting five years with an organisation I work with for five years who know me through those five years vs it being portable to a new organisation four and a half years after being done who don’t know where I’ve been or what I’ve been doing since it was issued.

Employees are often expected to pay for their own, including teachers:

Please note, successful candidates will be expected to meet the cost of the relevant PVG check (£59 or £18), which will be deducted from your salary following commencement of employment.

https://myjobscotland.gov.uk/councils/north-ayrshire-council/jobs/teacher-457899

They are not free for voluntary groups, the cost is covered elsewhere - for now. I can’t see that continuing. I have no idea why they couldn’t not operate a central register so when you have a second/third/tenth role that organisation couldn’t just be provided with your number to look you up on that register. Isn’t that what happens in England?

It is also a nightmare for small community group organisers - it is a criminal offence not to do one where necessary, and a criminal
offence to do one where not necessary. And everyone gives conflicting information about when it is necessary.

And if your potential volunteers have lived overseas at all in the last ten years…

the new PVG rules are supposed to be simpler long term they will for 5 years and you will give permission for new emploter voluntary organisation or chairity to view your disclosure
the 5 year system starts in April, they will be starting with renewals for those whose original disclosure was pre 2016
They are free for charities via volunteer Scotland unless you are self employed you should not be paying for your own, it is the employer who pays, as an invigilator mine was paid for, y one for church youth work was free as it''s a charity
you should create and log into your disclosure scotland where you can update addresses with proof and names with proof ie marriage certificate etc

The school ones seem unessecary surely if you are a school volunteer you only need 1.

You are mixing the time the check is valid for - eg a year - /5 years - and making them portable - which could be by you giving them a digital key that they can use to check your certificate status on line

That school situation seems crazy - surely it can be coordinated within one school. I don't do a new one for each activity with the organisation I volunteer with.

This, you should never be out of pocket with PVGs although i do think having numerous is a waste of money and time i remember you just needed an enhanced disclosure and that was you it just followed you around.

I do understand why they're not portable. I recently got a new one and it went straight to the safeguarding officer at the organisation, not through me at all, so there was no way for me to interfere with it. It felt more safe.
Also, it's only a snapshot in time, so if they were portable how long would you let people carry them for? If I had a scouts one last year it doesn't tell a new organisation next year that i've still not done anything criminal

Not school related groups

and also not groups that are not “targeted” at children even though you may have children as members

And I think you’re right in it being a feminist issue. It’s unlikely for kids clubs you’re going to get both parents to do it so inevitably it’ll be mostly the mums.

No you need individual PVG checks for each thing. I have 4 or 5 now. Amazingly I needed separate ones for going on a class trip, volunteering in the school library and being a member of the PTA. all at the exact same place. So very stupid.

I haven’t paid for anything but the school has and that makes me angry. They have no money for basic needs but are faffing around with this paperwork nonstop.

We're registered with Volunteer Scotland which makes the PVGs free - scot gov waiver. Are not all voluntary organisations?

It’s just ridiculous that you can’t just get one to cover all when you’re not even going to be either alone or responsible for a child. I need to get one done for both Brownies and Beavers but have dragged my heels on it.

free pvgs don’t apply for volunteer in schools

I always thought the multiple checks more than a bit mad and the cost is prohibitive for small groups - but hadn’t thought about the fact it’s mostly women affected - and that matches my experience of volunteers

I've looked at some guidance and it says that PVG checks are free for volunteers. Is that wrong? And can't you just apply once and then just use that for any employers or charities you do relevant work for? That's how I read the guidance, but it seems that's wrong too?