The Care Inspectorate can confirm, that PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) checks for Childminders and Enhanced Disclosure checks will be carried out free, until 31 March 2012.
From 1 April 2012, anyone applying to register as Childminder, will have to pay for their own PVG check (or scheme update for existing PVG members), the Enhanced checks for all residents over 16 living in their home and continue to pay for the checks of any Childminder Assistants they wish to help them with their business
Existing Childminders should be aware that they will from 1 April 2012 also be expected to pay for Enhanced Disclosure checks for anyone living in their home, when they become 16 or when anyone over 16 who becomes an occupant.
It is expected that ALL existing Childminders and their assistants will become PVG scheme members over the next 3/4 years. When Disclosure Scotland announce that they are accepting applications for 'retrospective' checking, we will issue information on how we are going to manage and process these applications.
If you are an existing childminder you are not eligible at this current time to apply to become a scheme member.
It is important to note that while these are additional costs to Childminders, the Scottish Government continues to heavily subsidise the Registration and Continuation fees for Childminders in Scotland.