I have convictions on my dbs

ekinadese

I am a 31 year old Fine Art Graduate of Middlesex University. My interests is to go on to become an Art Therapist. Whilst I was studying, I got myself into a lot of trouble that has appeared on my DBS. This is now an obstacle that will prevent me from working in schools and it is very upsetting. is anyone in this same position or able to talk me through steps to overcome this all. I have spoken with the agency that turned down my application and they advised me go through volunteering as to gain good and personal references that will help and support me in the future.

DomRavioli

ekinadese wrote: »

I am a 31 year old Fine Art Graduate of Middlesex University. My interests is to go on to become an Art Therapist. Whilst I was studying, I got myself into a lot of trouble that has appeared on my DBS. This is now an obstacle that will prevent me from working in schools and it is very upsetting. is anyone in this same position or able to talk me through steps to overcome this all. I have spoken with the agency that turned down my application and they advised me go through volunteering as to gain good and personal references that will help and support me in the future.

You can't "overcome" it. You broke the law. If you have violent convictions, fraud, or are on list 99, you will never work with vulnerable children or adults and never in a school.

If your convictions are not of that nature, then you can wait until they are spent.

What is the nature of your offences?

Bogalot

How recent are the offences and what are they?

I'm sure you can understand that it will take a long period of no offending before you can be considered to work with vulnerable people. Depending on the offences, that could be forever.

maninthestreet

What is an 'art therapist' ???

GDB2222

ekinadese wrote: »

I am a 31 year old Fine Art Graduate of Middlesex University. My interests is to go on to become an Art Therapist. Whilst I was studying, I got myself into a lot of trouble that has appeared on my DBS. This is now an obstacle that will prevent me from working in schools and it is very upsetting. is anyone in this same position or able to talk me through steps to overcome this all. I have spoken with the agency that turned down my application and they advised me go through volunteering as to gain good and personal references that will help and support me in the future.

Do you think the agency's advice is sensible, or do you think it was just designed to let you down gently?

Part of this depends whether your offences will drop off your DBS when spent. Details are here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-filtering-guidance/dbs-filtering-guide

This is a simpler guide:
http://hub.unlock.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/What-will-be-filtered-by-the-DBS.pdf

Bogalot

maninthestreet wrote: »

What is an 'art therapist' ???

Self evident?!

Art therapy can be very effective in managing complex mental health difficulties, including schizophrenia.

tyler2027

I used to work in the NHS.


I worked with people who had made mistakes in the past. Nothing on the fraud/violence/sex offender scale, just normal people who in younger days did a bit of shoplifting etc.


For normal clearance old "convictions" etc get spent.


Not so for enhanced. So any history will always show up. Where people go wrong is when they declare themselves clean when they are not. The results come back, and the employer is more concerned that they cant trust you than what happened 20 yrs ago.


So the moral is, always tell. My colleagues did, and they were judged on their behaviour since and all went well.

nimbo

What was the offence? Some will be very relevant and will stop you getting onto an arg therapy course. However others probably won't. You need to decide which this is. Or may be.

When I was applying for a social work degree all applicants had to complete a dbs form - as it was enhanced all applicants were advised that of the check would. It come back blank to do the check nice and early.

The dbs' that came back with any criminal history were placed before a panel of people who would in their roles be on interview panels - and the question was posed - 'if qualified would you employ this person'. Any criminal records that would be considered a barrier did not get offered a place.

However if a person at 17 was convicted of shop lifting and were aged 40 odd at the time
Of applying to university they probably wouldn't be stopped form getting a place. Your offence needs to be taken in context. If it involves any kind of vulnerable person then it will probably be a flat you're scuppered.

ohreally

ekinadese wrote: »

Whilst I was studying, I got myself into a lot of trouble that has appeared on my DBS.

And this has come as a surprise?

kingfisherblue

Volunteering might require a DBS, so you might be turned down for that too, depending on what your convictions were for. I volunteer for Girlguiding, and have an enhanced DBS, as do all volunteers. As we work directly with children, it is a requirement.

However, depending on the nature of your conviction, and being upfront about it, you might be ok. I knew someone who had driven without insurance and he gained a decent and reasonably well paid job that required an enhanced check - it had been many years earlier.

I believe that NACRO offer advice to those who have been in prison, but I'm not sure about those who have convictions without a prison record. It might be worth contacting them to ask for advice.

xapprenticex

Why on earth are you getting into a lot of legal trouble while at uni? uni life is ###### up nowadays.

you past actons will make things difficult, you'll just have to make the best of what you have but from the sounds of it id forget about schools/children.

we dont know your convictions but the agency and whoever else you approached does know and they turned you away so ill assume its not something you'll get around