Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scotland

Reviewing the legislation

 * Engage with third sector at every stage - it is a key stakeholder in protecting vulnerable groups, but needs sufficient time and clear proposals in order to respond effectively
 * Carry out a gender analysis of the proposed changes for differential impact on men and women
 * Explore links between these proposals and the strategies to tackle loneliness, homelessness, mental health and employability

Key principles

 * Volunteer checks should always be free for volunteers (this is a red line for our sector)
 * Scheme rules should be simple, clear and unbureaucratic
 * Members should be allowed to leave and rejoin the scheme at will
 * The scheme should foster a risk-aware rather than risk-averse approach

Proposed list of Annex-B roles
If required then we offer a list of additional roles for consideration here (additions in italics):

General

1. Any student training for a profession whose members are in protected roles.

2. The Reporter of officers appointed under section 8(5) of the Local Government etc

(Scotland) Act 1994 to assist that officer

Social care/Care

1. Care home owner / manager

2. Care Assistant (in any setting with children or adults with welfare needs, illness or

disability)

3. Day Carer in any setting with children or adults with illness or disability

4. Registered Social Service Worker

5. Registered Social worker

6. Volunteer with children, or adults with disability or illness

7. Peer worker for children, or adults with disability or illness

8. Support worker for children, or adults with disability or illness

9. Youth worker/volunteer

10. Careers Advisor – children and/or adults

11. Driver 12. Carer / Personal Carer
 * Transport of patients
 * Transport of School children
 * Transport of children, or adults with disability or illness

13. Care assistant

14. Counsellor 15. Volunteer with children, or adults with disability or illness
 * Children
 * Drug and alcohol
 * Bereavement
 * Family mediation
 * Faith/Religious

16. Peer worker for children, or adults with disability or illness

17. Support worker for children, or adults with disability or illness

18. Youth worker/volunteer

19. Placement Carer

20. Child minder / child-minding assistant

21. Interpreters for children, or adults with disability or illness

Education

1. Teacher 2. Classroom Assistant
 * Children
 * Protected Adults
 * Sunday School
 * Music teacher

3. School Coordinator

4. Nursery worker

5. Active schools coordinator

6. Support for learning staff

7. Tutor (should make explicit mention of children and protected adults in college settings)

8. School hostel worker

Health

1. Medical Doctor

2. Medical/Dental Nurse

3. Dentist

4. Dental Hygienist

5. Radiographer

6. Physiotherapist

7. Ophthalmic optician

8. Dispensing optician

9. Registered Osteopath

10. Registered Chiropractor

11. Registered Pharmacy Technician

12. Registered Pharmacist

13. Midwife

14. Healthcare support workers/Auxiliaries

15. Social Worker

16. Speech Therapist

17. Sport therapists

18. Prosthetist

19. Psychologist

20. Paramedic/ambulance technician

21. Orthoptist

22. Occupational Therapist

23. Hearing aid dispenser

24. Arts therapists

25. Chiropodist

26. Podiatrist

27. Pathologist

Volunteering

1. Community centre volunteer for children, or adults with disability or illness

2. Youth/children’s club volunteer

3. Any protected role listed in a voluntary capacity

4. Aid Worker

Sports & Leisure

1. Sports Coach for children, or adults with disability or illness

2. Academy Skills Coach

3. Sports Agents

4. Sports Scout

5. Kit man

6. Adult Learning Tutor/coach

7. Youth Development

8. Outdoor sport and recreation activity instructors

9. Assistant coaches

10. Lifeguard

11. Leisure attendant

Protected Establishments - children

1. School workers

2. Children’s hospital workers

3. Children’s hospice workers

4. Children’s home workers

5. Children’s secure accommodation workers

6. Children’s ward workers

7. Leisure centre workers accessing changing areas

Protected Establishments – adults

1. Adult care home

2. Adult hospice

3. Workers in patient treatment areas of hospitals



Conclusions
An overriding concern with the proposals in this consultation is the lack of clarity on the link between job roles and the legislative requirements to cover regulated work.

It is more important what these roles actually do rather than the name of the role. The consultation proposals sometimes mixes these up and is not precise enough in the definitions it does use.

This leads to questions about the effectiveness of this consultation given how fundamental some of the changes proposed are.

It may therefore be better to review the proposals as part of a more systemic consideration of the future of disclosure and the PVG scheme in Scotland.