Regulated Activity and Roles

Regulated Activity

England, Wales, and Northern Ireland

Regulated Activity is work that a barred person must not do.  Someone who does work that is considered to be in Regulated Activity needs to have a check against the appropriate barred list/s which are maintained by the DBS.  Barred lists can only be checked for roles which involve working in Regulated Activity. 

It is against the law for organisations to allow someone to work (volunteer or paid) in Regulated Activity if they know they are on the barred lists.  It is also a criminal offence for a barred person to apply to work in Regulated Activity. 

 In order to determine whether a role is in Regulated Activity, or eligible for a DBS check, Recruiters registered with us can follow our interactive eligibility guidance. 

Regulated Activity does not include any activity carried out in the course of family relationships or personal, non-commercial relationships. 

Regulated Roles

Scotland

In Scotland, Regulated roles are positions that involve working with children or protected adults, where there is a need for safeguarding measures to prevent unsuitable individuals from being employed. These roles require individuals to be members of the relevant Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme(s).

Disclosure Scotland keeps a list of people unsuitable for regulated roles with children or protected adults.  

It is an offence for an individual to seek, agree to do or carry out a regulated role with a group they are barred from working with. Similarly, organisations must not offer a regulated role to someone who is barred from that type of regulated role.  

From 1st July 2025, it is also an offence for: 

Anyone to carry out a regulated role whilst not a member of the PVG scheme 

Organisations to offer any type of regulated role to an individual unless they have received a Level 2 with PVG disclosure.  

Regulated roles do not include activities carried out in the course of family relationships or personal, non-commercial relationships.