DBS checks cover England and Wales only — in Scotland cleaners in regulated roles use the PVG scheme run by Disclosure Scotland, and in Northern Ireland they use AccessNI. A genuinely nationwide cleaning provider has to run the right scheme for each nation, because the rules, levels and fees differ across the UK's borders.
Why DBS stops at the border
The Disclosure and Barring Service processes checks for England and Wales (plus the Channel Islands and Isle of Man) only. It has no jurisdiction in Scotland or Northern Ireland, which run their own vetting systems. For a multi-site contract that crosses borders, this is not a technicality — using the wrong scheme leaves a role improperly vetted. See our companion guide to DBS checks for cleaners.
Scotland: the PVG scheme
In Scotland, it is a legal requirement to join the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme, run by Disclosure Scotland, to do a 'regulated role' with children and/or protected adults. PVG membership lasts five years. The current fee is £59 for a scheme record, with £18 to add a further organisation. The scheme is being reformed under the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020, but the live fee remains £59.
Northern Ireland: AccessNI
Northern Ireland's equivalent of the DBS is AccessNI, which offers Basic, Standard and Enhanced checks. The fees are £16 for Basic, £16 for Standard and £32 for Enhanced; volunteers in qualifying roles are checked free. As with DBS and PVG, the level required depends on the role's duties and the level of contact with children or protected adults.
Which cleaning roles trigger a check
Whether a specific cleaning post triggers PVG in Scotland or a Standard/Enhanced AccessNI check in Northern Ireland is role-dependent — it turns on the duties and the level of contact with children or protected adults. Cleaning in healthcare and care settings, schools and children's services typically triggers the higher levels; lower-risk commercial cleaning generally does not. It is assessed per contract.
One nationwide standard, the correct scheme in each nation
Optus Glean UK covers all four UK nations under one contract, and handles the devolved vetting for you: DBS in England and Wales, PVG through Disclosure Scotland north of the border, and AccessNI in Northern Ireland. We describe our staff as DBS-checked (Disclosure Scotland / AccessNI in Scotland and Northern Ireland) — one documented standard, delivered with the right check in each jurisdiction.
Vetting schemes by UK nation for cleaning roles
| Nation | Scheme / body | Levels | Current fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| England & Wales | DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) | Basic, Standard, Enhanced, Enhanced + Barred List | £21.50 Basic/Standard; £49.50 Enhanced |
| Scotland | PVG scheme (Disclosure Scotland) | PVG scheme record (regulated roles) | £59 scheme record; £18 further organisation |
| Northern Ireland | AccessNI | Basic, Standard, Enhanced | £16 Basic; £16 Standard; £32 Enhanced |