Criminal Record ruining everything...

marybelle01

earthbound_misfit wrote: »

I would like to add I did relevent study and worked in care a few years ago, and got a place to start nurse training at a very well-respected (for nursing) university, which was later withdrawn after CRb and health checks.

And harsh or not in your view, here is the fact in plain sight. The place was withdrawn after they did the checks. If they had known about these circumstances beforehand and made their decision based on full information from you, then the checks would not have shown them anything they didn't already know about, and thus wouldn't have altered their decision to offer you a place. So their view altered only because they had new information.

I am not saying that your problems were not severe or that you deserved anything - but describing a criminal record as unfair or ludicrous simply will not convince anyone to set aside that information. Your record is what it is, and you either have to deal with that fact or choose work where the record does not come to light. I really am not being cruel here - I am telling you how it is from the point of view of a manager in a position to make decisions about employing people like you.

This is the reality. I have a record in front of me that says that XX person has a criminal record for "affray" and other similar offences, a medical record that says this person has been abusive to medical / mental health staff, and a history of serious mental ill health. I may be entirely sympathetic with their personal history, but as far as I am concerned - and more to the point, as far as my employer is concerned - that person may be a risk, and I need to be able to demonstrate that they are not. If that person argues that their criminal record was "ludicrous" and that it was all down to misunderstanding and the fault of others, my employer would sack me for employing that person! However, if that person has disclosed all this information, and I have decided that they are the best person for the job in light of their reasoned explanation, good record since etc., then I have a considerably easier task in arguing the case for employing them.

Now it might be easier to erase the past - but that simply isn't going to happen. Which as I said, is not an insurmountable barrier to your working in any caring field. But rightly or wrongly, your attitude to these things will be. I don't make the rules, but I do have to apply them, as do others recruiting in these fields - so you can either accept that and work with it or not. I am not trying to tell you that you can't reach your goal - I am telling you what you will have to do to get to it! That may not seem helpful to you, but it is probably the most realistic advice you are going to get. Because in the end, no matter how great a person was at interview, no matter how great their application was, no matter how fabulous their references may be - if the checks done throw up this sort of record and I wasn't expecting it, then I will not recruit them and nor would most employers.

jetplane

You are unable to have your record erased. A few years ago there was a court ruling which declared that all convictions will appear on an enhanced CRB even from 20 - 30 years ago. In addition there is also other information on an enhanced CRB gathered from other sources. It is up to your employer to decide whether the information is relevant.

We know there are people with criminal records and mental health working in care and we also know that there are criminals who don't get caught and some people who get charged with an offence while others don't and it isn't always fair and equal. However in today's climate an employer would be taking a risk employing someone with a relatively recent known criminal record and mental health illness and that person would be dealing with vulnerable people.

I know that mental health services repeatedly let people down, particularly when patients have difficulty engaging, complying and taking medication. I believe that you were in a bad place but are you sure you are recovered? Maybe you should take this opportunity to grab all the help you can to get you back on track. Accept that it will take a while and use these services to help you with work, there are organisations which specifically help ex offenders and/or people with mental health problems to find work.

It's not easy though and you should work towards becoming well and something achievable rather than focus on one thing that you may never be able to do. Nursing is a stressful job and involves a lot of learning and study, you need to be stable enough not to relapse and there are many who want to nurse who can't but you mustn't let it be the sole focus of your life.

Good luck.

purple.sarah

Contact Nacro for advice and support, they help ex-offenders to move towards finding work.

CKhalvashi

purple.sarah wrote: »

Contact Nacro for advice and support, they help ex-offenders to move towards finding work.

This advice is spot on, thanks Sarah for getting there before me!

Something that has also been raised (I am a former teacher, with a minor conviction when I was 16; I left due to personal reasons) is that if you can show dedication in the job for 2-3 years, you stand a much better chance.

Someone who has shown that they have dedication to turn their life around is going to put you in good stead.

Speak to Nacro, and also to Open university; discuss the problem with them openly, and you will hopefully get somewhere.

Good luck, and let us know how you get on!

CK

Notmyrealname

earthbound_misfit wrote: »

As for demonstrating I am 'no longer a risk' - I was NEVER a risk to anyone!

Your criminal record disagrees. I don't know what you were convicted of but it doesn't have to be violence for you to be a risk. If you stole stuff you're a risk to an employer as you could do it again.

earthbound_misfit

@ACDC1978 - I didn't know you could get careers advice after leaving school! That's great will do that, thanks.

@dandelionchick - I have noticed this too (ex-offenders working in these environments) so will look into this, thank you.

@Wantsajob - So sorry to hear of your awful experience. I often think the staff are less mentally 'with it' than the patients - and speaking up for yourself/having an understanding of what's happening and what you need often seems to count against you in the MH system, oddly enough.

@sleeplesssaver - thanks and will look into it - although I was referred to an 'ex-offender's' scheme after the events 6/7 yrs ago, and they said I didn't really fit the profile and it wasn't for "people like you"... cos I was articulate, good literacy/numeracy skills, organised re. knowing career I wanted and following relevent work/courses etc... quite frustrating... but I'm in a different area now so will see.

@Marybelle01 - the university in question do not consider any CRB/health related information when interviewing etc. It is only when a place is offered that they ask for a self-declaration, followed by CRB and health checks. So I didn't keep anything hidden from them; in fact I specifically asked about CRB procedure and spoke to someone "off the record" about my specific circumstances before applying. (Sorry just didn't want you to think I'd deliberately held back info.)
In a way I'm glad I was offered the place I had worked for and proved my skills as a carer for - I know specifically why I couldn't take up the place so it is kind of easier than just generally feeling not good enough to do it.

@Jetplane - the MH services in the area I lived in at the time were appalling, think it must be the worst in the country! I'd had various traumatic expereinces that rapidly mount up further on trying to get help if professionals are... well, UNprofessional! Won't say more here. I had recovered, mainly alone with determination, and the more recent depression isn't exactly a relapse but sort of a result of this stressful/distressing time and loss of nursing hopes hitting me all at once, the lack of direction etc. I am incredibly good at dealing with stressful things (thrive on it in the right circumstances) if it is something I am passionate about - the past 2 weeks helping a friend who's had a very severe breakdown are testament to that (helping him contact/engage with services, apply for benefits, help with housing, general support, family mediation etc!) people are always telling me I should get into this kind of work and then I have to explain about the record...
Thanks for your comments just wanted to clear that up!

Thanks for all the replies and advice, will be following it up. Hopefully I can get work as a carer again when I have picked up a bit, really enjoyed that before.