Voluntary organisations have warned that thousands of vulnerable people are at risk after the government made sudden changes to staff vetting procedures.

Voluntary organisations have warned that thousands of vulnerable people are at risk after the government made sudden changes to staff vetting procedures.

New guidance from Disclosure Scotland says charities are not entitled to full police and background checks unless the individual concerned is providing a direct health service or is registered to provide care through the Care Commission.

Ministers claim organisations have been illegally accessing too much information and have only ever been entitled to receive basic data on staff and volunteers.

But health support groups, befriending organisations and disability sports groups say the enhanced checks are necessary to ensure the safety of their clients. For many, contractual obligations to local authorities and insurance providers demand the full check.

The dramatic U-turn in approach has seen scores of complaints from voluntary groups and charities that have been carrying out the full "enhanced" disclosure checks, which include non-conviction data, since 2002, but are now having applications turned down.

Andrew Jackson of the Women's Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS), a charity with 11,000 volunteers in Scotland providing meals on wheels and befriending services, said the change is causing serious problems as their contracts with local authorities say those working with vulnerable adults must have enhanced checks done.

"Many of our contractual arrangements rely on us having volunteers checked to this level," he said.

"We tried to get a new volunteer checked for a befriending service but were told this is no longer possible, yet these volunteers are dealing with elderly and vulnerable people, often in their homes. We have just run a campaign to recruit more volunteers but cannot get them checked."

The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) said it has received a high number of calls from voluntary organisations about whether they will be able to continue to provide services. "This is a mess," said Lucy McTernan, acting chief executive of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO). "This abrupt change of policy has been brought into effect in a way that makes life very difficult for charities and voluntary organisations working in this area."

She welcomed a plan to make basic background checks free for charities and voluntary organisations, but said it did not address the problem of access to detailed checks, especially where they were needed by local authorities.

She added: "We need a full explanation of how this decision was made, a clear assessment of the implications on the voluntary sector and Local Authorities."

Johann Lamont, Scottish Labour's voluntary sector spokeswoman, said: "This is not only unfair but also in danger of harming the welfare of the people that these groups look after."

A Scottish Government spokesman said the government would not jeopardise the work of voluntary organisations.

But, he said: "There are inconsistencies in the level of checks being sought by some voluntary and charitable organisations. In some cases, this means that volunteers who only required a basic check were being disclosure checked to enhanced level."

He added: "The Protection of Vulnerable Groups Act is due to come into effect next year and will make clear who is entitled to what level of check.

"In the interim, as voluntary organisations are not entitled to free basic checks and could have incurred additional costs, the Scottish Government has agreed to meet these costs.

"We are also exploring legal options which may allow positions - such as befrienders or advocates - to be eligible for an enhanced check."