Vulnerable Sector Check

A Canadian term. A Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC) is a police information check plus a check for record suspensions for sexual offences, used when a position is one of trust or authority over children or vulnerable persons.

In the UK, do not copy VSC into policy. England and Wales use DBS checks at defined levels; Scotland uses PVG; Northern Ireland uses AccessNI. Eligibility is statutory. A Canadian page that says “all youth volunteers need a VSC” is describing a different instrument, even if the operational intent — screen people in positions of trust — is familiar.

Local equivalent: DBS check.