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The short answer
England and Wales use DBS, Scotland uses Disclosure Scotland, including the PVG scheme, and Northern Ireland uses AccessNI. The rules differ. If your charity works across the UK, check which system applies to each recruitment decision.
Scope: UK disclosure systems
Three systems at a glance
| System | Where it is used | Start here |
|---|---|---|
| DBS | England and Wales | Check the level, workforce and any barred-list eligibility. |
| Disclosure Scotland / PVG | Scotland | Establish whether the role is a regulated role requiring PVG membership. |
| AccessNI | Northern Ireland | Check eligibility for basic, standard or enhanced disclosure. |
These are different legal systems, not interchangeable product names. Use the relevant official guidance when choosing a check.
Which system applies to cross-border recruitment?
For standard and enhanced checks, DBS says to use the system for the place where the recruitment decision is made. A basic check for personal use where no suitability decision is being made follows different guidance, including residence. [1]
If your charity recruits centrally, record where decisions are made and where volunteers will work. Where Scottish regulated roles or other cross-border obligations arise, confirm the position with the relevant disclosure bodies. Do not assume a certificate is transferable merely because the organisation operates throughout the UK.
Scotland: the PVG scheme
PVG stands for Protecting Vulnerable Groups. Membership is required by law for certain roles in Scotland, called regulated roles. Disclosure Scotland continues to monitor suitability while a person remains in the scheme. Membership can relate to children, protected adults or both. [2]
Five-year membership was introduced from 1 April 2026. Existing lifetime members move to the new arrangements when they apply after that date or when Disclosure Scotland transfers them. Do not assume they all have the same expiry date. [3]
Use Scotland’s regulated-role rules to assess the duties. The England and Wales rules are different. [4]
Northern Ireland: AccessNI
AccessNI provides basic, standard and enhanced disclosures. Standard and enhanced applications normally go through a registered organisation, and enhanced eligibility and barred-list access depend on the role. [5]
Eligible volunteer standard or enhanced applications may be free, while basic checks remain chargeable. Check the AccessNI volunteer rules; do not assume DBS fees or exemptions apply. [6]
When an existing AccessNI disclosure is offered for a new role, establish what the receiving organisation needs and can accept. The DBS Update Service is not a universal update service for AccessNI or PVG.
Build the country into your recruitment record
- Record the location of the role and suitability decision.
- Name the relevant disclosure system and guidance.
- Assess eligibility and the appropriate application route.
- Record who reviewed the outcome and what was accepted.
- Use the review or membership-renewal process for that system.
SignMeUp’s public site describes DBS check management. Do not assume it also processes PVG or AccessNI applications: confirm the service needed for your event with the team.
Sources and further reading
Last accuracy check: 25 September 2026. We review this series monthly against official guidance. Follow the linked guidance for the full conditions and any later changes.
- DBS: working with children in the charity sector↩
- Disclosure Scotland: PVG scheme↩
- Disclosure Scotland: transition to five-year membership↩
- Disclosure Scotland: regulated roles guidance↩
- AccessNI: types of checks↩
- AccessNI: using a criminal record check↩
Government guidance is attributed to the bodies linked above. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0, where applicable. This guide provides general information; decisions depend on the specific role and setting.