at a loss how to advise a friend

mountainofdebt

I don't know the proceedure for fostering but surely background checks would have thrown up any doubts about his past

Does anyone know (through experience rather than a google search) what checks are made?

pol-zeath

Do you have any idea of the rigorous checks a foster parent goes through? 6 months or so of interviews, family and friends being interviewed. I would think it highly unlikely that he would be able to change his identiy. Not impossible but unlikely,

DigForVictory

Can I remind you of the whole rehabilitation of offenders bit - if it's 6 years ago or older, most offences are 'spent'. There are all sorts of criminal convictions - unless you personally know it was a crime against children - the fostering relationship should be left to carry on.

whitewing

If there is a declared conviction or spent conviction, then surely it is already known about and therefore won't inconvenience the fosterers if it is reported.

However, if there is an id change and valid conviction in the old name then that needs to be investigated.

meritaten

this is what worries me - she wont tell me what he was convicted of - just says 'he shouldn't be around kids'. I am surmising that it was a sex offence.
she is also a bit of a 'drama queen' - but, she has surprised me with this. she ran into him (literally) months ago - and she said she knows he recognised her - but claimed he didn't. she also hasn't said a word until today - then rang me to ask advice.
she has also asked about him locally and she is still convinced he is this guy she knew. and after doing my own searches - I am leaning towards her being right.
I think I will ring her now and tell her to take it to SS. if anything happened I couldn't live with myself if we did nothing.

hieveryone

This sounds a bit 'sour grapes' to me - was your friend ever 'involved' with this guy?

To say he 'shouldn't be around kids' is a pretty big accusation to make, and one that wouldn't get you past the first stage of fostering checks.

The fact she won't tell you what his conviction is for is also slightly worrying to me. What one person sees as 'a criminal conviction not to be around kids' might not be classed as that by another. Did he do 40 in a 30 zone where kids were playing nearby? Yes, might make him a bit reckless, but not enough to ban him from ever having a child.

Errata

TBH I can't even guess at how you could give her sensible advice when she won't give you the facts.

Saturnalia

whodathunkit wrote: »

...the application process to become a foster carer includes an enhanced criminal record bureau check."

The Fostering Network

DigForVictory wrote: »

Can I remind you of the whole rehabilitation of offenders bit - if it's 6 years ago or older, most offences are 'spent'. There are all sorts of criminal convictions - unless you personally know it was a crime against children - the fostering relationship should be left to carry on.

Doesn't the enhanced CRB (I know it has a different name now but it's a similar sort of check) also include spent offences? I though some types of offences were never spent, though I might be wrong.

Of course if this man is using a different name now and has managed not to have his previous name investigated, that won't matter - but how simple is it to change name and not have to provide any detail of previous ones? Won't it come to light that there is very little papertrail attached to the new name? Otherwise couldn't every criminal change name and get a new clean identity every so often?

Obviously I'm just wondering out loud here - but Social Services will know what checks are/should be/were/weren't done and calling them will set your mind at rest - either all is above board and no worries or this man has managed to slip through a crack somewhere and they can check that out.

pol-zeath

hieveryone wrote: »

This sounds a bit 'sour grapes' to me - was your friend ever 'involved' with this guy?

To say he 'shouldn't be around kids' is a pretty big accusation to make, and one that wouldn't get you past the first stage of fostering checks.

The fact she won't tell you what his conviction is for is also slightly worrying to me. What one person sees as 'a criminal conviction not to be around kids' might not be classed as that by another. Did he do 40 in a 30 zone where kids were playing nearby? Yes, might make him a bit reckless, but not enough to ban him from ever having a child.

Hmm I was wondering this it all sounds a bit dramatic. Checks go right back to the foster carer's childhood, schooling close friends and family,

Georgiegirl256

Why won't she tell you the conviction? She's a bit of a drama queen huh? Could she have something against this guy? Maybe he knocked her back or something? I'd be telling her to keep her nose out.