DBS check and working with children.

wilbo1974

What I am really asking is it worth spending money and time training to be some sort of special needs carer or volunteer when all along the very fact that I have a conviction automatically rules me out.
I could just talk to the head of the local special needs school and ask.

wilbo1974

Cheers guys I feel more confident about the whole thing now.

BlueEyedGirl

wilbo1974 wrote: »

What I am really asking is it worth spending money and time training to be some sort of special needs carer or volunteer when all along the very fact that I have a conviction automatically rules me out.
I could just talk to the head of the local special needs school and ask.

Look for some voluntary work with a local charity connected to people with Learning Disabilities. Given you are a father of a child with DS you stand a good chance of them taking you on and all experience counts especially if you are looking to gain qualifications in this area.

tomtontom

beckett110 wrote: »

I wouldn't worry in the slightest then if I was you, it would need to be pretty bad for the police to disclose it to DBS. As long as you've learnt from it and don't rise to it in future then I think you'll be fine. It would be wrong of anyone to judge you when you've already admitted you were in the wrong, we all make mistakes.

Good luck with everything.

You are aware that filtering only applies after 11 years (assuming the OP was not under 18)?

sangie595

beckett110 wrote: »

I wouldn't worry in the slightest then if I was you, it would need to be pretty bad for the police to disclose it to DBS. As long as you've learnt from it and don't rise to it in future then I think you'll be fine. It would be wrong of anyone to judge you when you've already admitted you were in the wrong, we all make mistakes.

Good luck with everything.

I am sorry, but on what earthly basis do you conclude this? An enhanced DBS, required for any work with children or vulnerable people, MUST include all convictions. The police do not decide what will and will not be disclosed - it is set down by law. And the police have nothing to do with deciding on DBS checks either - they are processed by a government agency wholly unconnected to the police force.

And I am sorry OP, but yes, a lot of parents do get involved in their childs school - but specifically NOT with their child whilst in the school. There is a huge difference between volunteering for the school your child attends and volunteering to see more of your child. And actually, that wasn't what you said either - you said "One thought is to volunteer or even work at her schools, clubs or any other places she will be involved with." That is stalking behaviour - parents simply do not spend their lives trying to be involved in every aspect of their childs life, at school, clubs and anywhere else they may be.

In the position of a headteacher or someone else responsible for children, even if I decided to overlook the conviction, I would be allocating voluntary work that did not involve frequent contact with your own child. Because that would involve an unhealthy overreliance on a parent, and that is the case no matter the childs mental or physical state - all children need to learn and interact with people who are not their parents to encourage greater independence. To say nothing of the school or club needing to manage allegations of favouritism. Volunteering or working in any capacity in your own childs school or club is about volunteering for everyone and in whatever role they need - not volunteering to be with your child.

If you wish to be more involved in your child life your wife has said that you can see her whenever you want. Why can you not be satisfied with that?

BlueEyedGirl

beckett110 wrote: »

I wouldn't worry in the slightest then if I was you, it would need to be pretty bad for the police to disclose it to DBS. As long as you've learnt from it and don't rise to it in future then I think you'll be fine. It would be wrong of anyone to judge you when you've already admitted you were in the wrong, we all make mistakes.

Good luck with everything.

You are so wrong. Every conviction / caution will show up on a enhanced DBS whether it be shoplifting at 11 or robbing the local bank at 25!

wilbo1974

tomtontom wrote: »

You are aware that filtering only applies after 11 years (assuming the OP was not under 18)?

Please keep up mate, I mentioned that already in post #4 of this thread. We are now #28

wilbo1974

sangie595 wrote: »

And I am sorry OP, but yes, a lot of parents do get involved in their childs school - but specifically NOT with their child whilst in the school. There is a huge difference between volunteering for the school your child attends and volunteering to see more of your child. And actually, that wasn't what you said either - you said "One thought is to volunteer or even work at her schools, clubs or any other places she will be involved with." That is stalking behaviour

If you wish to be more involved in your child life your wife has said that you can see her whenever you want. Why can you not be satisfied with that?

Please look at the direction you are coming from. You can't seriously be saying that I would be stalking my own daughter. That's ridiculous.

In case you haven't read she has Downs Syndrome. The schools and clubs she will be going to are crying out for volunteers, a lot of them are run by the parents.

What I am asking is, is the law going to stop me working with children because the check will show a conviction or not.

wilbo1974

BlueEyedGirl wrote: »

You are so wrong. Every conviction / caution will show up on a enhanced DBS whether it be shoplifting at 11 or robbing the local bank at 25!

Yeah I thought the same. The government website says that not only would it show cautions but it would even show if you had been a person of interest but not charged or cautioned.

GwylimT

BlueEyedGirl wrote: »

You are so wrong. Every conviction / caution will show up on a enhanced DBS whether it be shoplifting at 11 or robbing the local bank at 25!

My caution shows up from when I was 19, being drunk and disorderly for throwing a chicken nugget at a police car because it looked hungry.